v. 使降级；使降职（demote 的现在分词）

Demote \De*mote"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Demoted}; p. pr. & vb.
n. {Demoting}.] [Pref. de- + mote, as in promote; cf. L.
demovere to remove.]
To reduce to a lower grade or rank, as in the military, one's
employment, or in school; to assign to a lower position.

Syn: bump, relegate, kick downstairs, break one's rank.
[Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC WordNet 1.5]