verb (v)

• assign to a lower position; reduce in rank(verb.social)

  Example:
  She was demoted because she always speaks up.
  

  Synonym:
  break, bump, kick downstairs, relegate
  Antonym:
  advance, elevate, kick upstairs, promote, raise, upgrade
  

  source: wordnet30
• To reduce to a lower grade, as in school.(verb)

  source: webster1913