Definition of subtract
transitive verb
: to take away by or as if by deducting subtract 5 from 9 subtract funds from the project
intransitive verb
: to perform a subtraction
subtracter
nounIndulge Your Inner Word Nerd
Examples of subtract in a Sentence
if you subtract 10 from 23, you get 13
you can subtract the time you spent daydreaming from your total homework time
Recent Examples of subtract from the Web
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What if there were a way states could inject funds into jobs and community programs without subtracting money from other items in their budgets?
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Alternatively, investors can sell securities that have declined in value ahead of schedule in order to subtract those losses from their income subject to tax in the current year.
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Meeting the 2025 emissions reduction target alone could subtract $250 billion from our GDP and eliminate 2.7 million jobs.
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A general rule is every two briquettes added or subtracted means a 25 degree change in the baking temperature.
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Most of the world calculates trade deficits by subtracting total imports from total exports.
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The recipient, knowing precisely how the noise was added, can subtract it from the transmission and wind up with the original, unscrambled message.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'subtract'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of subtract
Latin subtractus, past participle of subtrahere to draw from beneath, withdraw, from sub- + trahere to draw
First Known Use: 1557
SUBTRACT Defined for English Language Learners
subtract
playDefinition of subtract for English Language Learners
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: to take (a number or amount) from another number or amount
SUBTRACT Defined for Kids
Word Root of subtract
The Latin word tractus, meaning “pulled” or “dragged,” gives us the root tract. Words from the Latin tractus have to do with being pulled or dragged. To attract is to pull or draw towards you. To distract is to pull someone's attention away from something. To extract is to pull one thing out of another. To subtract is to pull a portion or number away from a group or from a whole.
Learn More about subtract
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See words that rhyme with subtract Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for subtract Spanish Central: Translation of subtract Nglish: Translation of subtract for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of subtract for Arabic speakers
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