Meaning of decrease in English

Table of contents

Verb
decrease
Etymology
late Middle English: from Old French decreis (noun), decreistre (verb), based on Latin decrescere, from de-‘down’ + crescere‘grow’
Definitions
1. decrease in size, extent, or range
Examples
- « The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester »
- « The cabin pressure fell dramatically »
- « her weight fall to under a hundred pounds »
- « his voice fell to a whisper »
Antonyms
- increase
Derived terms
2. make smaller
Examples
- « He decreased his staff »
Antonyms
- increase
Derived terms
- drop-off
- lessening
Noun
decrease
Definitions
1. a change downward
Examples
- « there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided »
- « there was a sharp drop-off in sales »
Antonyms
- increase
Derived terms
2. a process of becoming smaller or shorter
Antonyms
Derived terms
3. the amount by which something decreases
Antonyms
- increase
- increment
Derived terms
4. the act of decreasing or reducing something
Antonyms
- increase
- step-up
Derived terms

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