decrease

1 of 2

verb

de·​crease di-ˈkrēs  ˈdē-ˌkrēs 

decreased; decreasing

intransitive verb

: to grow progressively less (as in size, amount, number, or intensity)

Yearly sales decreased by five percent.

His little remaining strength had been decreasing rapidly for two or three days preceding …

—Charles Dickens

transitive verb

: to cause to decrease

decrease the risk of heart disease

trying to decrease our use of fossil fuels

decreasingly

di-ˈkrē-siŋ-lē 

dē-

adverb

decrease

2 of 2

noun

de·​crease ˈdē-ˌkrēs  di-ˈkrēs 

1

: the process of growing progressively less (as in size, amount, number, or intensity) : the process of decreasing

a decrease in productivity

2

: an amount of diminution : reduction

a decrease of 20,000

saw a 20% decrease in violent crime

Synonyms

Verb

• abate
• de-escalate
• dent
• deplete
• diminish
• downscale
• downsize
• drop
• dwindle
• ease
• knock down
• lessen
• lower
• reduce

Noun

• abatement
• decline
• decrement
• dent
• depletion
• depression
• diminishment
• diminution
• drop
• drop-off
• fall
• falloff
• loss
• reduction
• shrinkage
• step-down

Choose the Right Synonym for decrease

decrease, lessen, diminish, reduce, abate, dwindle mean to grow or make less.

decrease suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity.

slowly decreased the amount of pressure

lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number.

has been unable to lessen her debt

diminish emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total.

his visual acuity has diminished

reduce implies a bringing down or lowering.

you must reduce your caloric intake

abate implies a reducing of something excessive or oppressive in force or amount.

the storm abated

dwindle implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller.

their provisions dwindled slowly

Examples of decrease in a Sentence

Verb

Sales decreased by five percent this year.

The driver decreased her speed as she approached the curve.

These changes will decrease our expenses.

Noun

Studies report a recent decrease in traffic accidents.

Because of the injury, some decrease in mobility is to be expected.

a decrease of three dollars

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The number of Jesuits globally has steadily decreased since the 1960s, when there were more than 36,000. —Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025

Winds will decrease Friday night before increasing again Saturday morning. —Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 25 Apr. 2025

Noun

Analysts project earnings of $0.68 per share on sales of $14.11 billion, indicating a decrease from the earnings of $0.82 per share and sales of $14.88 billion in the same quarter last year. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025

In the first half of 2024, 3.12 million animals entered U.S. shelters, according to Shelter Animals Count, a decrease from the same period in 2023. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Middle English decreessen, from Anglo-French decrestre, from Latin decrescere, from de- + crescere to grow — more at crescent

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing decrease

• on the decrease

Rhymes for decrease

• apiece
• aris
• assise
• caprice
• cerise
• decease
• eyepiece
• facepiece
• handpiece
• headpiece
• increase
• mouthpiece

Kids Definition

decrease

1 of 2 verb

de·​crease di-ˈkrēs  ˈdē-ˌkrēs 

decreased; decreasing

: to make or become smaller

decrease speed

decrease 6 by 2

decrease

2 of 2 noun

de·​crease ˈdē-ˌkrēs  di-ˈkrēs 

1

: a process of decreasing

a decrease in accidents

2

: the amount by which a thing decreases

a decrease of three dollars