Definition of reduce
reduced
;reducing
transitive verb
1a : to draw together or cause to converge : consolidate reduce all the questions to oneb (1) : to diminish in size, amount, extent, or number reduce taxes reduce the likelihood of war (2) : to decrease the volume and concentrate the flavor of by boiling add the wine and reduce the sauce for two minutesc : to narrow down : restrict the Indians were reduced to small reservationsd : to make shorter : abridge
2 archaic : to restore to righteousness : save
3 : to bring to a specified state or condition the impact of the movie reduced them to tears
5a : to bring to a systematic form or character reduce natural events to lawsb : to put down in written or printed form reduce an agreement to writing
6 : to correct (a fracture) by bringing displaced or broken parts back into their normal positions
7a : to lower in grade or rank : demoteb : to lower in condition or status : downgrade
8a : to diminish in strength or densityb : to diminish in value
reducer
nounFrom the M-W Editors
Examples of reduce in a Sentence
The medicine reduces the risk of infection.
We are trying to reduce our debt.
Stricter speed limit enforcement has reduced the number of car accidents.
Her prison sentence was reduced from 15 years to 10.
Recent Examples of reduce from the Web
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Gibson has cut the average length of time animals stay at the shelter and reduced the number of animals being euthanized.
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Dozens of states and many cities have policies intended to reduce emissions of greenhouses gases and deal with the effects of rising temperatures.
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Ameya Pawar, Pritzker supports a graduated income tax as a way to help increase the state's share of school funding and reduce the property-tax burden.
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In Bernards Township, officials maintained that their actions were not discriminatory and said the decision to settle was made to end a yearslong ordeal and reduce the financial risk posed by continuing litigation.
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The room where candles are reflected millions of times in memory of the 1.5 million children who were murdered by the Nazis is enough to reduce anyone to tears.
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Southeast Alabama Medical Center has cut 80 jobs from its 2,800-member workforce in a move to reduce costs, the Dothan Eagle is reporting.
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The Congressional Budget Office says that the latest iteration of the tax-cut bill in healthcare clothing will leave 23 million people uninsured over the next decade and will reduce the deficit by $119 billion over the same stretch of time.
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The council also will consider reducing the amount of vacation time employees can accrue each year from 424 hours to 320 hours and lowering the rate at which employees earn vacation time.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reduce'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of reduce
Middle English, to lead back, from Latin reducere, from re- + ducere to lead — more at 1tow
First Known Use: 14th century
Synonym Discussion of reduce
conquer, vanquish, defeat, subdue, reduce, overcome, overthrow mean to get the better of by force or strategy. conquer implies gaining mastery of. Caesar conquered Gaul vanquish implies a complete overpowering. vanquished the enemy and ended the war defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals. the Confederates defeated the Union forces at Manassas subdue implies a defeating and suppression. subdued the native tribes after years of fighting reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender. the city was reduced after a month-long siege overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle. overcame a host of bureaucratic roadblocks overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power. violently overthrew the old regime
REDUCE Defined for English Language Learners
reduce
playDefinition of reduce for English Language Learners
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: to make (something) smaller in size, amount, number, etc.
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: to cause (someone) to be in a specified state or condition
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: to cause (something) to be in a specified form by breaking it, burning it, etc.
REDUCE Defined for Kids
reduce
playDefinition of reduce for Students
reduced
;reducing
1 : to make smaller or less reduce expenses Reduce your speed ahead.
2 : to bring to a usually worse state The story reduced them to tears.
3 : to lower in grade or rank
4 : to change to a simpler form Reduce a fraction to its lowest terms.
5 : to lose weight by dieting
Medical Dictionary
reduce
playMedical Definition of reduce
reduced
;reducing
1
transitive verb
: to correct (as a fracture or a herniated mass) by bringing displaced or broken parts back into their normal positions2a: to bring to the metallic state by removal of nonmetallic elements reduce an ore by heatb: deoxidizec: to combine with or subject to the action of hydrogend (1): to change (an element or ion) from a higher to a lower oxidation state (2): to add one or more electrons to (an atom or ion or molecule)
1
intransitive verb
: to become diminished or lessened; especially : to lose weight by dieting2: to become reduced ferrous iron reduces to ferric iron
3: to undergo meiosis
Law Dictionary
reduce
playLegal Definition of reduce
reduced
reducing
1 : to make smaller
2a : to convert (a chose in action) into a chose in possession enforcement action sought to reduce to possession her property interest in the…determination of money damages — Haynes v. Contat, 643 N.E.2d 941 (1994) b : to convert by enforcement through litigation may reduce a claim to judgment, foreclose, or otherwise enforce the claim — Uniform Commercial Code
reducibly
adverbreduce to practice
: to cause to undergo reduction to practice
Learn More about reduce
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for reduce Spanish Central: Translation of reduce Nglish: Translation of reduce for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of reduce for Arabic speakers
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