to relegate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to relegate" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the act of assigning someone or something to a lower position or status. Example: "The manager decided to relegate the underperforming employee to a less critical role within the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nevertheless, Nicklaus was prepared to relegate Donald on one list.

Independent

To relegate his memory to "orneriness" is to deny reality.

The New York Times

All of this would seem to relegate Newsom to the high-art avant-garde hinterlands.

The New York Times - Magazine

Two commodities he gives them are potent enough to relegate all other criteria to irrelevance.

Independent

They seem to relegate the importance of a free and fair vote.

The New York Times

Earlier this year, Spin made the decision to relegate its record reviews to Twitter posts.

The New York Times

We cannot allow the crisis in Somalia to relegate women's security to an optional extra.

The Guardian - Opinion

But he received nothing but 5.9's for presentation, enough to relegate Goebel to second.

The New York Times - Sports

But in the end, the better decision is to relegate artwork to walls, not vaults.

The New York Times

"I had to fight so hard to relegate Therese to a minor role," she explains.

The New York Times - Books

But his Mercedes teammate, Nico Rosberg, passed him on the restart to relegate his older teammate to finish seventh.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "to relegate", ensure the context clearly indicates the demotion or assignment to a lower status. The phrase often carries a negative connotation, so consider the implications for tone.

Common error

Avoid using "to relegate" when you mean "to delegate". "To delegate" means to assign a task or responsibility to someone else, while "to relegate" means to demote or assign to a lower position. The former implies empowerment, while the latter implies a reduction in status.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to relegate" primarily functions as an infinitive verb phrase. It often indicates an action involving demotion, assignment to a lower status, or referral. Examples from Ludwig show its use in contexts ranging from sports to politics, aligning with Ludwig AI's confirmation of its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to relegate" is a versatile infinitive phrase used to describe the act of assigning someone or something to a lower position or status. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used, particularly in news and media contexts. When using "to relegate", be mindful of its negative connotation and ensure that the context aligns with the intended meaning of demotion or reduction in status. Avoid confusing it with "to delegate", which has a different meaning. By understanding its function and usage patterns, you can effectively incorporate "to relegate" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to demote

Focuses specifically on lowering someone's rank or position.

to lower in status

A more general way to express the act of reducing someone's standing.

to downgrade

Emphasizes reducing the quality or importance of something.

to assign to a lower position

More explicit about the act of placing someone in a less important role.

to consign

Implies assigning something, often to an undesirable fate or location.

to displace

Indicates moving something from its current position, often to a less prominent one.

to delegate

Highlights the act of passing on a responsibility or task, often downwards.

to refer

Focuses on directing something to someone else for action or consideration.

to reduce

Focuses on diminishing something in size, importance, or intensity.

to submit

Suggests presenting something for approval or decision.

FAQs

How can I use "to relegate" in a sentence?

You can use "to relegate" to describe the act of assigning something or someone to a lower rank or position. For example, "The team's poor performance led the manager "to relegate" several players to the reserve squad".

What are some alternatives to "to relegate"?

Some alternatives to "to relegate" include "to demote", "to downgrade", "to consign", or "to assign to a lower position", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "relegate to" or "relegate from"?

The correct usage is "relegate to". You relegate something to a lower position or status, not from it. For example, "The company decided "to relegate" the project to a lower priority".

What's the difference between "to relegate" and "to delegate"?

"To relegate" means to demote or assign something to a lower rank, while "to delegate" means to entrust a task or responsibility to someone else. They have opposite connotations; one implies a reduction in status, the other, empowerment.