Definition

1. Verb (transitive and intransitive):
   • To make something smaller or less in amount, degree, or size: The core meaning involves decreasing the quantity, intensity, or scale of something.
   • To bring something to a simpler or more basic state: This involves breaking down or converting something into a different, often more fundamental, form.
   • To lower someone in rank, status, or condition: To force someone into a humbler, weaker, or less dignified position.
   • To lose body weight: To become thinner or lighter (intransitive use).

Examples of Usage

• Transitive Verb (making smaller/less):

  • The company plans to reduce its carbon emissions by 50%.
  • Please reduce the volume of the music.
  • She tried to reduce her daily sugar intake.

• Transitive Verb (bringing to a simpler state):

  • The chef reduced the sauce by simmering it for an hour.
  • We can reduce the problem to two main issues.

• Transitive Verb (lowering in status):

  • The scandal reduced him to a figure of ridicule.
  • The army reduced the captured officer to the ranks.

• Intransitive Verb (losing weight):

  • He has been exercising and dieting to reduce.

Advanced Usage

• "reduce something to ashes/rubble": To destroy something completely.

  • The fire reduced the historic building to ashes.

• "reduce someone to tears/silence": To make someone so upset or shocked that they cry or become silent.

  • The harsh criticism reduced the young performer to tears.

• "boil down to" (a related phrasal idiom meaning to be summarized as): While not using "reduce" directly, it conveys a similar sense of simplification.

  • The long debate boils down to a question of cost.

Variants and Related Words

• Reduction (n): The act or process of making something smaller or less.

  • The reduction in staff was necessary for the company's survival.

• Reducer (n): A person or thing that reduces.

  • A noise reducer was installed in the engine.

• Reducible (adj): Capable of being reduced.

  • The fraction 4/8 is reducible to 1/2.

Synonyms

• Decrease: To become or make less in size, amount, intensity, or degree.
• Diminish: To make or become less.
• Lessen: To reduce in size, extent, or degree.
• Lower: To cause to move down or become less in amount, value, or quality.
• Cut (down/back): To reduce the amount, number, or size of something.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Reduce to:
  • The economic crisis reduced many families to poverty. (To bring to a specified, usually worse, state)
  • The chapter can be reduced to a few key points. (To summarize or simplify into)

Related Idioms

• Reduce one's circumstances: To become poorer or less prosperous.

  • After the business failed, they found themselves in reduced circumstances.

• Reduce the heat/temperature (figurative): To make a situation less tense or intense.

  • The mediator tried to reduce the heat in the negotiations.

Verb

1. take off weight
2. lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture
   • cut bourbon
3. cook until very little liquid is left
   • The cook reduced the sauce by boiling it for a long time
4. be cooked until very little liquid is left
   • The sauce should reduce to one cup
5. reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
   • The manuscript must be shortened
6. destress and thus weaken a sound when pronouncing it
7. reposition (a broken bone after surgery) back to its normal site
8. undergo meiosis
   • The cells reduce
9. put down by force or intimidation
   • The government quashes any attempt of an uprising
   • China keeps down her dissidents very efficiently
   • The rich landowners subjugated the peasants working the land
10. narrow or limit
    • reduce the influx of foreigners
11. to remove oxygen from a compound, or cause to react with hydrogen or form a hydride, or to undergo an increase in the number of electrons
12. make smaller
    • reduce an image
13. lessen and make more modest
    • reduce one's standard of living
14. reduce in size; reduce physically
    • Hot water will shrink the sweater
    • Can you shrink this image?
15. be the essential element
    • The proposal boils down to a compromise
16. lower in grade or rank or force somebody into an undignified situation
    • She reduced her niece to a servant
17. simplify the form of a mathematical equation of expression by substituting one term for another
18. bring to humbler or weaker state or condition
    • He reduced the population to slavery
19. make less complex
    • reduce a problem to a single question
20. cut down on; make a reduction in
    • reduce your daily fat intake
    • The employer wants to cut back health benefits