decrease
Plural: decreases
Noun
- a change downward
- "there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided"
- a process of becoming smaller or shorter
- the amount by which something decreases
- the act of decreasing or reducing something
- An amount by which a quantity decreases or is decreased.
- A reduction in the number of stitches, usually accomplished by suspending the stitch to be decreased from another existing stitch or by knitting it together with another stitch. See Decrease (knitting).
Verb
Verb Forms: decreased, decreasing, decreases
- To make or become smaller or fewer in size or amount.
- decrease in size, extent, or range
- "The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester"
- make smaller
- "He decreased his staff"
- Of a quantity, to become smaller.
- To make (a quantity) smaller.
Examples
- After six years of constant growth, the company reported a slight decrease in sales last year.
- His chances to win began to DECREASE with every passing turn in Words With Friends.
- Let's decrease the volume a little so we can hear each other talking.
- One research team has recorded Baishui’s decrease at about 27 meters per year over the last 10 years.
- The quality of our products has decreased since the main designer left.
Origin / Etymology
From Middle English decresen, alteration of discresen, from Anglo-Norman, Old French descreistre (French: décroître), from Latin decrescere.
Synonyms
decrement, diminish, diminution, drop-off, fall, lessen, lessening, minify, reduction, step-down, abate, cut, decline, decrease, drop, go down, loss, lower, lowering, plummet, plunge, reduce, shrink, shrinkage, sink
Scrabble Score: 11
decrease: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Worddecrease: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
decrease: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary