reduce

verb re·duce \ ri-ˈdüs , -ˈdyüs \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: reduce in a Sentence

Definition of reduce

reduced; reducing

transitive verb

1 a : to draw together or cause to converge : consolidate

reduce all the questions to one

b (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 minutes

c : to narrow down : restrict

the Indians were reduced to small reservations

d : 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

4 a : to force to capitulate

b : force, compel

5 a : to bring to a systematic form or character

reduce natural events to laws

b : 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

7 a : to lower in grade or rank : demote

b : to lower in condition or status : downgrade

8 a : to diminish in strength or density

b : to diminish in value

9 a (1) : to change the denominations or form of without changing the value

(2) : to construct a geometrical figure similar to but smaller than (a given figure)

b : to transpose from one form into another : convert

c : to change (an expression) to an equivalent but more fundamental expression

reduce a fraction

10 : to break down (as by crushing or grinding) : pulverize

11 a : to bring to the metallic state by removal of nonmetallic elements

reduce an ore by heat

b : deoxidize

c : to combine with or subject to the action of hydrogen

d (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)

12 : to change (a stressed vowel) to an unstressed vowel

intransitive verb

1 a (1) : to become diminished or lessened; especially : to lose weight by dieting

(2) : to become reduced

ferric iron reduces to ferrous iron

b : to become concentrated or consolidated

c : to undergo meiosis

2 : to become converted or equated

—

reducer

noun

—

reducibility

play \ri-ˌdü-sə-ˈbi-lə-tē, -ˌdyü-\ noun

—

reducible

play \ri-ˈdü-sə-bəl, -ˈdyü-\ adjective

—

reducibly

play \ri-ˈdü-sə-blē\ adverb

See reduce defined for English-language learners

See reduce defined for kids

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

In principle, the tournament is an even playing field, where nations—irrespective of population, GDP, history, life expectancy, military budget, trade surplus, space program, film industry, and so on—are reduced to 11 men on the pitch.

— kanishk tharoor, The Atlantic, "The Elusive Underdog Magic of the World Cup," 14 July 2018
Constitutional law can’t be reduced to simple politics, and not all judicial conservatives and judicial liberals are the same.

— jeffrey rosen, WSJ, "What We Learn from Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings," 13 July 2018
This would then be repeated until the field was reduced to the required size—between three and five representatives, depending on the seat.

— The Economist, "America’s electoral system gives the Republicans advantages over Democrats," 12 July 2018
By the time firefighters contained the blaze, the roof had collapsed, the grand oak staircase was reduced to kindling, and fat icicles hung like stalactites from the windows.

— inga saffron, Philly.com, "A tale of two historic Philadelphia buildings: One rises from the ashes. The other falls to the wrecking ball.," 12 July 2018
Drivers will be able to cross the bridges, but traffic, as of July 9, was reduced to one-lane in each direction at certain spots.

— kimberly fornek, chicagotribune.com, "Oak Street Bridge and Chicago Avenue in Hinsdale to close for construction," 12 July 2018
The main price hike hits customers who want to watch streaming video at HD quality instead of being reduced to DVD quality.

— aaron pressman, Fortune, "Sprint Follows Rivals By Complicating Its Unlimited Mobile Data Plans," 12 July 2018
None of the tournament’s top 10 seeded players made it to the quarterfinals, and this is only the second time in the last decade that every one of those top 10 has been reduced to spectator status for the final.

— sam farmer, latimes.com, "Serena Williams advances to her 10th Wimbledon final with victory over Julia Goerges," 12 July 2018
Last year, in addition to reducing money to navigator groups, the Administration cut funding for promotion of the law by $90 million.

— alana abramson, Time, "Trump Administration Cuts $26 Million in Funds for Organizations that Help People Sign Up For Obamacare," 11 July 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

reduce Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of reduce

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

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

verb

Definition of reduce for English Language Learners

: to make (something) smaller in size, amount, number, etc.
: to cause (someone) to be in a specified state or condition
: to cause (something) to be in a specified form by breaking it, burning it, etc.

REDUCE Defined for Kids

reduce

verb re·duce \ ri-ˈdüs , -ˈdyüs \

Definition 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

verb re·duce \ ri-ˈd(y)üs \

medical Definition of reduce

reduced; reducing

transitive verb

1 : to correct (as a fracture or a herniated mass) by bringing displaced or broken parts back into their normal positions

2 a : to bring to the metallic state by removal of nonmetallic elements

reduce an ore by heat

b : deoxidize

c : to combine with or subject to the action of hydrogen

d (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)

intransitive verb

1 : to become diminished or lessened; especially : to lose weight by dieting

2 : to become reduced

ferrous iron reduces to ferric iron

3 : to undergo meiosis

Law Dictionary

reduce

transitive verb re·duce \ ri-ˈdüs, -ˈdyüs \

legal Definition of reduce

reduced; reducing

1 : to make smaller

2 a : 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