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

Now in theaters, Final Reckoning’s budget is $400 million after subtracting tens of millions of dollars in tax incentives and rebates from the various countries included on its globe-trotting shooting schedule. —Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 5 June 2025

The official breakdown data showed the biggest drags on activity came from public demand and net trade, each subtracting 0.1 percentage point from the quarterly GDP figure, while private demand boosted output by 0.3 percentage point. —Anniek Bao,lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 4 June 2025

Small businesses are also eligible to subtract 23 percent of qualifying income from taxes. —Kate Nalepinski, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 May 2025

Imports are subtracted from U.S. GDP because they’re produced in other countries. —Paul Davidson, USA Today, 7 May 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