DECREASE

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does decrease mean? 

• DECREASE (noun)
  The noun DECREASE has 4 senses:

1. a change downward

2. a process of becoming smaller or shorter

3. the amount by which something decreases

4. the act of decreasing or reducing something

  Familiarity information: DECREASE used as a noun is uncommon.

• DECREASE (verb)
  The verb DECREASE has 2 senses:

1. decrease in size, extent, or range

2. make smaller

  Familiarity information: DECREASE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DECREASE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A change downward

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

decrease; drop-off; lessening

Context example:

there was a sharp drop-off in sales

Hypernyms ("decrease" is a kind of...):

alteration; change; modification (an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decrease"):

shrinkage; shrinking (process or result of becoming less or smaller)

casualty (a decrease of military personnel or equipment)

sinking (a slow fall or decline (as for lack of strength))

attrition (a wearing down to weaken or destroy)

dwindling; dwindling away (a becoming gradually less)

waning (a gradual decrease in magnitude or extent)

Antonym:

increase (a change resulting in an increase)

Derivation:

decrease (decrease in size, extent, or range)

decrease (make smaller)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A process of becoming smaller or shorter

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

decrease; decrement

Hypernyms ("decrease" is a kind of...):

physical process; process (a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decrease"):

wastage (the process of wasting)

slippage (a decrease of transmitted power in a mechanical system caused by slipping)

narrowing (a decrease in width)

desensitisation; desensitization (the process of reducing sensitivity)

decline; diminution (change toward something smaller or lower)

decay; decline (a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current)

Antonym:

increase (a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important)

Derivation:

decrease (decrease in size, extent, or range)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The amount by which something decreases

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

decrease; decrement

Hypernyms ("decrease" is a kind of...):

amount (the relative magnitude of something with reference to a criterion)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decrease"):

dip; drop; fall; free fall (a sudden sharp decrease in some quantity)

shrinkage (the amount by which something shrinks)

Antonym:

increase (the amount by which something increases)

Derivation:

decrease (decrease in size, extent, or range)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The act of decreasing or reducing something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

decrease; diminution; reduction; step-down

Hypernyms ("decrease" is a kind of...):

change of magnitude (the act of changing the amount or size of something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decrease"):

deduction; subtraction (the act of subtracting (removing a part from the whole))

cut (the act of reducing the amount or number)

tax credit (a direct reduction in tax liability (not dependent on the taxpayer's tax bracket))

shelter; tax shelter (a way of organizing business to reduce the taxes it must pay on current earnings)

declassification (reduction or removal by the government of restrictions on a classified document or weapon)

amortisation; amortization (the reduction of the value of an asset by prorating its cost over a period of years)

reverse split; reverse stock split; split down (a decrease in the number of outstanding shares of a corporation without changing the shareholders' equity)

contraction (the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope)

depreciation (a decrease in price or value)

weakening (the act of reducing the strength of something)

rollback (reducing prices back to some earlier level)

deduction; discount; price reduction (the act of reducing the selling price of merchandise)

deflation (the act of letting the air out of something)

shrinking (the act of becoming less)

shortening (act of decreasing in length)

depletion (the act of decreasing something markedly)

minimisation; minimization (the act of reducing something to the least possible amount or degree or position)

de-escalation ((war) a reduction in intensity (of a crisis or a war))

alleviation; easement; easing; relief (the act of reducing something unpleasant (as pain or annoyance))

extenuation; mitigation; palliation (to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious)

devitalisation; devitalization (the act of reducing the vitality of something)

devaluation (the reduction of something's value or worth)

cutback (a reduction in quantity or rate)

lowering (the act of causing to become less)

mitigation; moderation (the action of lessening in severity or intensity)

Antonym:

increase (the act of increasing something)

Derivation:

decrease (decrease in size, extent, or range)

• DECREASE (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Decrease in size, extent, or range

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

decrease; diminish; fall; lessen

Context example:

his voice fell to a whisper

Hypernyms (to "decrease" is one way to...):

change magnitude (change in size or magnitude)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "decrease"):

break (diminish or discontinue abruptly)

decrescendo (grow quieter)

decelerate; retard; slow; slow down; slow up (lose velocity; move more slowly)

wane (become smaller)

wane (decrease in phase)

decline; go down; wane (grow smaller)

thin out (become sparser)

shorten (become short or shorter)

depreciate; devaluate; devalue; undervalue (lose in value)

de-escalate (diminish in size, scope, or intensity)

remit (diminish or abate)

dwindle; dwindle away; dwindle down (become smaller or lose substance)

abate; die away; let up; slack; slack off (become less in amount or intensity)

deflate (become deflated or flaccid, as by losing air)

shrink; shrivel (decrease in size, range, or extent)

taper (diminish gradually)

drop off (fall or diminish)

fly; vanish; vaporize (decrease rapidly and disappear)

break (fall sharply)

ease off; ease up; flag; slacken off (become less intense)

weaken (become weaker)

boil down; concentrate; decoct; reduce (be cooked until very little liquid is left)

contract; shrink (become smaller or draw together)

shrink; shrivel; shrivel up; wither (wither, as with a loss of moisture)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Antonym:

increase (become bigger or greater in amount)

Derivation:

decrease (the act of decreasing or reducing something)

decrease (the amount by which something decreases)

decrease (a change downward)

decrease (a process of becoming smaller or shorter)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make smaller

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

decrease; lessen; minify

Context example:

He decreased his staff

Hypernyms (to "decrease" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "decrease"):

belittle; diminish (lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of)

relax; slack; slack up; slacken (make less active or fast)

cut (have a reducing effect)

bring down; cut; cut back; cut down; reduce; trim; trim back; trim down (cut down on; make a reduction in)

minimise; minimize (make small or insignificant)

de-escalate; step down; weaken (reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of)

lour; lower; turn down (make lower or quieter)

abate; slack; slake (make less active or intense)

abbreviate; abridge; contract; cut; foreshorten; reduce; shorten (reduce in scope while retaining essential elements)

reduce; shrink (reduce in size; reduce physically)

boil down; concentrate; reduce (cook until very little liquid is left)

circumscribe; confine to; limit (restrict or confine within limits)

pare; pare down (decrease gradually or bit by bit)

mitigate (make less severe or harsh)

suppress (lessen to the point of stopping)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

increase (make bigger or more)

Derivation:

decrease (a change downward)

 Context examples 

Clinical signs include altered mental status, visual impairment and decreased muscle coordination.

(Alcohol-Induced Wernicke-Korsakoff's Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

A marked decrease in the number of mature granulocytes (most often neutrophils) in the peripheral blood.

(Agranulocytosis, NCI Thesaurus)

It can also be made in the laboratory, and may help decrease breast density.

(Afimoxifene, NCI Dictionary)

Aleglitazar binds to both PPARalpha and PPARgamma and decreases plasma levels of glucose, LDL-C, triglycerides (TG) and increases HDL levels.

(Aleglitazar, NCI Thesaurus)

This agent also blocks alpha-1-adrenergic receptors in peripheral vascular smooth muscle, which leads to vasodilatation and a subsequent decrease in peripheral vascular resistance.

(Alfuzosin, NCI Thesaurus)

Mefenamic acid inhibits the activity of the enzymes cyclo-oxygenase I and II, resulting in a decreased formation of precursors of prostaglandins and thromboxanes.

(Mefenamic Acid, NCI Thesaurus)

This agent also blocks alpha-1-adrenoreceptors in peripheral vascular smooth muscle, resulting in vasodilatation and a decrease in peripheral vascular resistance.

(Alfuzosin Hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

Localized administration of IL-2 may decrease toxicity and increase efficacy.

(Aerosolized Aldesleukin, NCI Thesaurus)

This may result in decreased tumor growth.

(AdGMCAIX-transduced Autologous Dendritic Cells, NCI Thesaurus)

The trend resulted in expected changes to most biological variables, including decreased streamflow and increased thickness of permanent ice cover on lakes.

(Extreme melt season leads to decade-long ecosystem changes in Antarctica's Dry Valleys, National Science Foundation)