demote
verb /diːˈməʊt/
/diːˈməʊt/
[often passive]Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they demote | /diːˈməʊt/ /diːˈməʊt/ |
| he / she / it demotes | /diːˈməʊts/ /diːˈməʊts/ |
| past simple demoted | /diːˈməʊtɪd/ /diːˈməʊtɪd/ |
| past participle demoted | /diːˈməʊtɪd/ /diːˈməʊtɪd/ |
| -ing form demoting | /diːˈməʊtɪŋ/ /diːˈməʊtɪŋ/ |
- to move somebody/something to a lower position or rank, often as a punishment
- be demoted (from something) (to something) He was demoted from sergeant to private.
- The American people have been demoted from citizens to consumers.
Word Originlate 19th cent.: from de- ‘down’ + a shortened form of promote.