Advertisement
Advertisement
decrease
[ verb dih-krees; noun dee-krees, dih-krees ]
verb (used without object)
- to diminish or lessen in extent, quantity, strength, power, etc.:
During the ten-day march across the desert their supply of water decreased rapidly.
verb (used with object)
- to make less; cause to diminish:
to decrease one's work load.
noun
- the act or process of decreasing; condition of being decreased; gradual reduction:
a decrease in sales;
a decrease in intensity.
Synonyms: subsidence, decline, abatement
- the amount by which a thing is lessened:
The decrease in sales was almost 20 percent.
decrease
verb
- to diminish or cause to diminish in size, number, strength, etc
noun
- the act or process of diminishing; reduction
- the amount by which something has been diminished
Derived Forms
- deˈcreasingly, adverb
- deˈcreasing, adjective
Other Words From
- unde·creased adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of decrease1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
That’s actually a decrease from 2014, when 8 million taxpayers made a payment.
Luckily, however, that meant a steep decrease in the average production costs, according to Fitzgibbons.
After three days, all five showed a measurable decrease in systolic blood pressure, a drop in heart rate, and an increase in creativity and feelings of well-being.
The decline is likely partially the result of an overall decrease in streaming after Covid-19 hit the US, due to the absence of people listening to music on commutes and in stores.
For example, pages with more than 500,000 likes on Facebook have seen a dramatic decrease in reach, possibly to encourage companies to increase their ad spend.
Police Superintendent Michael Harrison said the decline was a result of an effort to decrease gang violence.
That indicated a relatively rapid increase in methane, followed by an equally fast decrease.
Neighboring Guinea and Liberia, said WHO, were presenting evidence of a decrease in cases.
In his mind, this is only as problematic as the decrease in international support that it may cause.
“The sense down there is we have to understand what [this decrease] is,” WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic tells The Daily Beast.
In mild cases a slight decrease of hemoglobin is the only blood change noted.
It is evident that an absolute increase of any variety may be accompanied by a relative decrease.
The infectious diseases in which leukocytosis is absent (p. 160) often cause a slight decrease of leukocytes.
The decrease affects chiefly the polymorphonuclear cells, so that the lymphocytes are relatively increased.
There is decided decrease of hemoglobin and red corpuscles, with moderate leukopenia and relative lymphocytosis.
Advertisement
More About Decrease
What does decrease mean?
To decrease is to lessen or become reduced in number, amount, size, or in some other way, as in Our profits will continue to decrease unless we cut costs.
As a verb, decrease is also used in an active way in which someone or something is doing the decreasing, as in I’m going to decrease my hours at work or These sunglasses decrease glare. The word reduce is perhaps even more commonly used to mean the same thing.
Decrease can also be used as a noun referring to a reduction, as in We are experiencing a decrease in applicants.
It can also refer to the amount by which something has decreased, as in The decrease was $5,000 per year.
The words decreased and decreasing can both be used as adjectives, as in a decreased appetite or decreasing sales.
The opposite of decrease as both a verb and a noun is increase.
Example: Sally decided to decrease her workload, which led to a decrease in stress.
Where does decrease come from?
The first records of the word decrease come from the 1300s. It comes from the Latin verb dēcrēscere, from de-, which indicates negation, descent, or reversal, and the Latin verb crēscere, meaning “to grow.”
Something that is decreasing is doing the opposite of growing—it’s becoming smaller in size, quantity, extent, or in some other way. As a noun, decrease indicates the opposite of growth.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to decrease?
- decreased (past tense verb, adjective)
- decreasing (continuous tense verb, adjective)
What are some synonyms for decrease?
What are some words that share a root or word element with decrease?
What are some words that often get used in discussing decrease?
How is decrease used in real life?
Decrease is an extremely common word that can be used in all kinds of contexts.
Showers have become confined mostly to the mountains and near the coast this evening. Showers will continue to decrease tonight with a mainly dry day on Wednesday. #wawx pic.twitter.com/4xh4FJXaFC
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle) February 17, 2021
Air pollution costs more than 100,000 American lives every year, with air quality at its worst during the summer. As we prioritize sustainable solutions and work to decrease our carbon footprint, here are some ways to reduce your exposure to dirty air. -L https://t.co/MVjPgRhGRy
— Lloyd H. Dean (@LloydHDean) August 14, 2019
As long as it doesn't lead to a decrease in salary, this might be a good idea. https://t.co/vy3soW3aK3
— Trent M Kays, PhD 🏳️🌈 (@trentmkays) February 9, 2021
Try using decrease!
Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of decrease?
A. lessen
B. dwindle
C. enlarge
D. decline
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse