Decrease — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /di-ˈkrēs/ (verb) /ˈdē-ˌkrēs/ (noun) de·crease

Meaning & Definition of Decrease

Decrease (verb)

  1. to become smaller in size, amount, number, or intensity
  2. to cause to decrease

Decrease (noun)

  1. the process of becoming progressively smaller (as in size, amount, number, or intensity), the process of decreasing
  2. an amount of diminution, reduction

Decrease (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent

    "workers decreased the volume of water flowing through the pipes in order to prevent an overflow"

    similar: abate, de-escalate, dent, deplete, diminish, downscale, downsize, drop, dwindle, ease, knock down, lessen, lower, reduce
    related: compress, condense, constrict, contract, abbreviate, abridge, clip, crop, curtail, cut, cut back, cut down, dock, nick, pare, prune, retrench, shorten, slash, trim, truncate, whittle, deflate, shrink, minimize, moderate, modify, modulate, qualify
    opposite: aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, enlarge, escalate, expand, increase, raise
    near: blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, swell, elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract, add (to), complement, supplement, enhance, heighten, intensify, redouble

  2. to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

    "the force of the wind slowly decreased until the flowers were standing upright again"

    similar: abate, decline, de-escalate, die (away or down or out), diminish, drain (away), drop (off), dwindle, ease, ebb, fall, fall away, lessen, let up, lower, moderate, pall, phase down, ratchet (down), recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, wane
    related: compress, condense, constrict, contract, evaporate, fade (away), fritter (away), give out, melt (away), peter (out), tail (off), vanish, slacken, slow (down), alleviate, relax, flag, sink, weaken, cave (in), collapse, deflate
    opposite: accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon, enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell, wax
    near: appear, emerge, show up, blow up, distend, elongate, lengthen

Decrease (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the amount by which something is lessened

    "the average decrease in the price of milk was five cents per gallon"

    similar: abatement, decline, decrement, dent, depletion, depression, diminishment, diminution, drop, drop-off, fall, falloff, loss, reduction, shrinkage, step-down
    related: deduction, subtraction, downturn, slip, slump, curtailment, cut, cutback, retrenchment, shortening
    opposite: boost, enlargement, gain, increase, increment, raise, rise, step-up, uptick
    near: accretion, accrual, accumulation, addition, supplement, continuation, extension, upswing, uptrend, upturn

Related Entry: Decrease (in) (verb)

Decrease (in) is a different word from Decrease. The synonyms below are for decrease (in), not for decrease.

  1. as in lose

    similar: lose, abate, decline (in), diminish (in), dip, dwindle, fall (in), lessen, taper, taper off
    opposite: build up, gain, gather, grow (in), pick up, double (in), triple (in), accrue, accumulate, amass

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Decrease

The most common words with a similar meaning to Decrease:

abate, de-escalate, dent, deplete, diminish, downscale, downsize, drop, dwindle, ease, knock down, lessen, lower, reduce, decline, die (away or down or out), drain (away), drop (off), ebb, fall, fall away, let up, moderate, pall, phase down, ratchet (down), recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, wane, abatement, decrement, depletion, depression, diminishment, diminution

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Decrease

Words with the opposite meaning of Decrease:

aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, enlarge, escalate, expand, increase, raise, accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon, grow, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell, wax, enlargement, gain, increment, step-up, uptick

Related Words for Decrease

compress, condense, constrict, contract, abbreviate, abridge, clip, crop, curtail, cut, cut back, cut down, dock, nick, pare, prune, retrench, shorten, slash, trim, truncate, whittle, deflate, minimize, modify, modulate, qualify, evaporate, fade (away), fritter (away)

Near Antonyms of Decrease

blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract, add (to), complement, supplement, enhance, heighten, redouble, appear, emerge, show up, accretion, accrual, accumulation, addition, continuation, extension, upswing, uptrend, upturn

Word Forms of Decrease

Inflections: decreased, decreasing

Derived words: decreasingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Decrease

Middle English decreessen, from Anglo-French decrestre, from Latin decrescere, from de- + crescere to grow crescent

First known use: 14th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Decrease

Words & Phrases Containing Decrease

on the decrease

Frequently Asked Questions about Decrease

What does "Decrease" mean?

"Decrease" means to become smaller in size, amount, number, or intensity. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to become smaller in size, amount, number, or intensity. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Decrease"?

Other words for "Decrease" include abate, de-escalate, dent, deplete, diminish, downscale, downsize and drop. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Decrease" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Decrease"?

There are 99 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Decrease". Common alternatives include abate, de-escalate, dent, deplete, diminish, downscale, downsize, drop, dwindle and ease.

What is the opposite of "Decrease"?

Antonyms of "Decrease" include aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, enlarge, escalate, expand and increase. Near antonyms include blow up, dilate, distend and inflate.

How do you use "Decrease" in a sentence?

Examples of "Decrease" in a sentence: "workers decreased the volume of water flowing through the pipes in order to prevent an overflow"; "the force of the wind slowly decreased until the flowers were standing upright again"; "the average decrease in the price of milk was five cents per gallon".

Is "Decrease" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Decrease" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Decrease" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Decrease" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Decrease"?

"Decrease" is pronounced /di-ˈkrēs/ as a verb and /ˈdē-ˌkrēs/ as a noun and divided into syllables as de·crease.