Synonyms

demote

American

[dih-moht] / dɪˈmoʊt /

verb (used with object)

demoted, demoting

to reduce to a lower grade, rank, class, or position (promote ).

They demoted the careless waiter to busboy.

demote British

/ dɪˈməʊt /

verb

(tr) to lower in rank or position; relegate

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

demotion noun

Etymology

Origin of demote

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; de- + (pro)mote

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Atlantic, citing DHS sources, reported that Bovino had been demoted from his role of Border Patrol commander at large and would return to his former job in El Centro, Calif.

From Los Angeles Times

That secured European qualification for the first time in the club's history, but they were demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League due to a breach of multi-club ownership rules.

From Barron's

A source close to the Kabul group suggested the ministers will be slowly removed or demoted.

From BBC

Hegseth issued a letter of censure against the retired Navy veteran and announced the Department of Defense would decide whether to demote Kelly and reduce his pension in the coming weeks.

From Salon

She says she was then demoted to a subordinate role on a big internal project supporting the other senior manager her report had implicated.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023