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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.
Synonyms: , , , ,
Antonyms: ,
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: , ,
- 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
- ˈԲ, adverb
- ˈԲ, adjective
Other Word Forms
- ܲd· adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of decrease1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
New figures show although prices in Jersey have continued to rise, the annual rate of inflation has decreased since the end of last year.
The news of decreasing film production in Los Angeles comes as lawmakers continue pushing for a revamped film and TV tax incentive program.
Japan's economy is under pressure because of its decreasing and ageing population, which means its workforce is shrinking and social care costs are ballooning.
Acceptable lead levels vary by state and the federal limit recently decreased from 400 ppm to 200 ppm because of increasing evidence that lead in any amount is harmful to humans.
"If senior officials in the executive branch are allowed to blatantly ignore ethics laws without consequence, it decreases public trust in our institutions"
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More About Decrease
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 ŧŧ, from de-, which indicates negation, descent, or reversal, and the Latin verb ŧ, 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 ... ?
are some other forms related to decrease?
- decreased (past tense verb, adjective)
- decreasing (continuous tense verb, adjective)
are some synonyms for decrease?
are some words that share a root or word element with decrease?
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.
— NWS Seattle (@NWSSeattle)
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
— Lloyd H. Dean (@LloydHDean)
As long as it doesn't lead to a decrease in salary, this might be a good idea.
— Trent M Kays, PhD 🏳️🌈 (@trentmkays)
Try using decrease!
Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of decrease?
A. lessen
B. dwindle
C. enlarge
D. decline
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