downshift

(-s̸hift′)

intransitive verb

to shift the transmission of a motor vehicle to a lower gear or arrangement

noun

an instance of shifting gears in this way

See downshift in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb down·shift·ed, down·shift·ing, down·shifts
verb, intransitive
  1. To shift a motor vehicle into a lower gear.
  2. To reduce the speed, rate, or intensity of something.
  3. To simplify or reduce one's expectations or commitments, especially in work hours: “28 percent said that they had downshifted and voluntarily cut back on their income in some way … to reflect changes in priorities” (Carey Goldberg).
verb, transitive
  1. To shift (a motor vehicle) into a lower gear.
  2. To reduce in speed, rate, or intensity: “The president is downshifting his confrontational rhetoric and reaffirming his readiness to talk arms control” (Newsweek).
  3. To simplify or reduce one's commitments in (one's life).

Related Forms:

  • downˈshiftˌ noun
  • downˈshiftˌer noun

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