-
Trending Now:
More Trending:
- implode transgender beleaguer scaramouch non sequitur
- ALL
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
nounIndulge Your Inner Word Nerd
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
-
Nett, 38, who has cerebral palsy, benefits from a Medicaid waiver, and the proposed health care plan would reduce it, drastically affecting his care, his caretaker Sarah Mack said.
-
The EDF said that reducing leaks would keep large quantities of smog-forming volatile organic compounds, cancer-causing benzene, and methane from being emitted into the air.
-
Keep the area weeded to reduce competition for nutrients and water and to promote better air circulation, which helps with disease control.
-
Under the Senate GOP bill, that change would reduce federal spending about $772 billion over the next decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
-
That’s one unfortunate byproduct of today’s technology: Complex questions, matters of infinite scope and great importance, are reduced to little bites of empirical pseudo-truths.
-
Finally, legalization would reduce the risk of finding drugs.
-
That improves the chances of success—but reduces the prospect of big profits.
-
That’s little improvement over the unpopular House version, though the bill’s deep spending cuts would reduce the deficit by $321 billion in the same period.
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
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
-
: 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
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
-
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
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up reduce? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!