If someone demotes you, they give you a lower rank or a less important position than you already have, often as a punishment.
例句
It's very difficult to demote somebody who has been standing in during maternity leave...要将一个在别人休产假期间顶替上来的人再降职是非常困难的。If they prove ineffective they should be demoted or asked to retire.如果事实证明他们已无力胜任，应该将他们降级或让他们退休。
VERB
使(球队等)降级
If a team in a sports league is demoted, that team has to compete in the next competition in a lower division, because it was one of the least successful teams in the higher division.
例句
The club was demoted at the end of last season.上个赛季末该俱乐部被降级了。