Definition

1. Noun:

   • The act of decreasing or reducing something: The process of making something smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.
   • The amount by which something decreases: The numerical difference or reduction measured between a higher and a lower state.
   • A process of becoming smaller or shorter: A gradual or sudden reduction in physical dimensions, quantity, or intensity.
   • A change downward: A movement to a lower level, value, or state.

2. Verb:

   • To make smaller: To cause something to become reduced in size, amount, intensity, or number.
   • To decrease in size, extent, or range: To become smaller or less; to diminish.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • There was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided.
  • The company reported a sharp decrease in sales this quarter.
  • We observed a steady decrease in the number of visitors.

• Verb:

  • The manager had to decrease his staff due to budget cuts.
  • The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester.
  • Public interest in the topic has decreased significantly over the years.

Advanced Usage

• "To be on the decrease": To be in a state of declining or becoming less frequent or intense.

  • Thankfully, crime rates in the area are on the decrease.

• "A marked decrease": A noticeable and significant reduction.

  • The new policy led to a marked decrease in energy consumption.

Variants and Related Words

• Decreasing (adj/verb, present participle): Becoming less; the act of reducing.

  • The decreasing trend is a positive sign.

• Decreased (adj/verb, past tense): Made smaller or become less.

  • She has a decreased appetite when she's stressed.

• Decremental (adj): Relating to or involving a decrease.

  • The study focused on the decremental effects of the drug over time.

Synonyms

• Noun: Reduction, decline, drop, fall, downturn, lessening, diminution.
• Verb: Reduce, lessen, diminish, decline, drop, fall, dwindle, shrink.

Antonyms

• Noun: Increase, rise, growth, expansion.
• Verb: Increase, rise, grow, expand, escalate.

Related Phrases

• Decrease by (a certain amount/percentage): To reduce by a specified quantity.

  • Profits decreased by 10% compared to last year.

• Decrease from... to...: To change from a higher level to a lower one.

  • The population decreased from 10,000 to 8,000 in a decade.

Noun

1. the act of decreasing or reducing something
2. the amount by which something decreases
3. a process of becoming smaller or shorter
4. a change downward
   • there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided
   • there was a sharp drop-off in sales

Verb

1. make smaller
   • He decreased his staff
2. decrease in size, extent, or range
   • The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester
   • The cabin pressure fell dramatically
   • her weight fell to under a hundred pounds
   • his voice fell to a whisper