decrease

verb

de·​crease di-ˈkrēs  ˈdē-ˌkrēs 

decreased; decreasing

intransitive verb

: to become smaller 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

Synonyms of decrease

• reduce

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

Sales decreased by five percent this year.

The driver decreased her speed as she approached the curve.

These changes will decrease our expenses.

Recent Examples on the Web

As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases. —Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 June 2026

Despite those increases, other categories like simple and aggravated assault had decreased slightly. —Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 8 June 2026

However, the company could increase or decrease the price before trading begins, said Matthew Kennedy, a senior market strategist at Renaissance Capital, which tracks IPOs. —Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 8 June 2026

Overall, daraxonrasib decreased the risk of death by 60% in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, a study found. —Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

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