Comprehensive
Dictionary Suite
Help
Help
Help
 
     

de·crease

decrease

 
 
parts of speech:
intransitive verb, transitive verb, noun
features:
Word Combinations (verb, noun)
part of speech: intransitive verb
pronunciation: dih kris
inflections: decreases, decreasing, decreased
definition: to become less in number, amount, size, strength, or the like; diminish.
Student enrollment in science classes decreased last year.The price of gas temporarily decreased in January.Demand for these products seems to have decreased.
See a movie for this meaning
 
synonyms:
abate, diminish, fall, lessen
antonyms:
accumulate, amplify, augment, build, expand, grow, increase, mount, proliferate, rise, strengthen, swell
similar words:
contract, decline, die away, die down, dip, drop, drop off, dwindle, ease off, ease up, ebb, fade, fall off, flag, let up, lower, ooze, peter out, remit, shrink, sink, slack, slacken, subside, taper, wane, weaken, wind down
 
part of speech: transitive verb
pronunciation: dih kris
definition: to cause to become less; cause to diminish.
We've been forced to decrease our spending this year.Taking this medication along with food decreases its effect.
synonyms:
attenuate, diminish, lessen, lower, reduce
antonyms:
amplify, augment, increase, swell
similar words:
abate, abridge, contract, cut, cut down on, de-escalate, deduct, mitigate, pare, retrench, scant, shorten, shrink, slacken, taper off
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
 
part of speech: noun
pronunciation: di kris
definition 1: the act of decreasing or condition of being decreased; diminishment; reduction.
The doctor is worried about the decrease in my appetite.
synonyms:
abatement, diminishment, diminution, lessening, reduction
antonyms:
growth, increase, swell
similar words:
abridgment, attrition, cut, cutback, decrement, dip, loss, lowering, mitigation, retrenchment, shrink, wane
definition 2: the amount or extent by which something decreases.
Last year saw a ten percent decrease in property values.
synonyms:
decline, drop, reduction
antonyms:
increase, rise
similar words:
cut, decrement, downturn, ebb, fall, fall-off, loss, sag, shrink, shrinkage, wane
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivation: decreasingly (adv.)