subtract

verb

sub·​tract səb-ˈtrakt 

subtracted; subtracting; subtracts

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 noun

Synonyms

• abate
• deduct
• knock off
• take off

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 on the Web

The deduction allows small businesses, including partnerships, sole proprietorships (who are often gig workers) and S corporations, to subtract 20% of their qualified business income from their taxes, lowering their tax liability. —Alain Sherter, CBS News, 14 May 2025

Their seven-year streak of making it as least as far as the ALCS was snapped last offseason, and since then, mainstays Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker have been subtracted from the roster. —Tony Blengino, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025

Although consumer and business spending were solid, the flood of imports ahead of tariffs translated into a contraction because foreign shipments to the U.S. are subtracted from economic output totals. —Paul Davidson, USA Today, 2 May 2025

When imports exceed exports, that subtracts from GDP and that was by far the biggest drag on growth in the first quarter. —Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin subtractus, past participle of subtrahere to draw from beneath, withdraw, from sub- + trahere to draw

First Known Use

1557, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for subtract

• abstract
• attacked
• attract
• contact
• contract
• detract
• distract
• enact
• exact
• extract
• hijacked
• impact

Kids Definition

subtract

verb

sub·​tract səb-ˈtrakt 

1

: to take away (as one part or number) from another : deduct

subtract 5 from 9

2

: to perform a subtraction