subtract

verb

sub·​tract səb-ˈtrakt 

subtracted; subtracting; subtracts

transitive verb

: to take away by or as if by deducting

subtract 5 from 9

subtract funds from the project

intransitive verb

: to perform a subtraction

subtracter noun

Synonyms of subtract

• deduct

Examples of subtract in a Sentence

if you subtract 10 from 23, you get 13

you can subtract the time you spent daydreaming from your total homework time

Recent Examples on the Web

How many racist comments must be subtracted from a Nature paper before the total is negative? —Kathryn Paige Harden, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025

How CalFresh cuts will play out for families Under federal rules, SNAP benefits are calculated by subtracting 30% of a household’s net income from the maximum benefit for that household size. —JosÉ Luis Villegas, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2025

Guy Rabideau, the Palm Beach lawyer who registered Top Dog and added and subtracted its members over the years, with Barrett’s signature, did not return numerous calls or respond to an unannounced visit to his office. —Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025

In blanching at the cost to upgrade the rotation last summer, Hoyer insisted the Cubs would have had to subtract a valuable piece from their major-league roster and give up one of the sport’s top 100 prospects. —Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin subtractus, past participle of subtrahere to draw from beneath, withdraw, from sub- + trahere to draw

First Known Use

1557, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for subtract

• abstract
• attacked
• attract
• contact
• contract
• detract
• distract
• enact
• exact
• extract
• hijacked
• impact

Kids Definition

subtract

verb

sub·​tract səb-ˈtrakt 

1

: to take away (as one part or number) from another : deduct

subtract 5 from 9

2

: to perform a subtraction