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 of subtract

• deduct

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

Proposition 3 keeps rates billionaires already pay on income — and appears likely to pass — while Proposition 40 would, in total, subtract billions from their net worth. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026

Those and taxes are not subtracted out of gross measurements of economic activity. — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2026

Normally, list prices are higher than net prices, since discounts are subtracted. — Ed Silverman, STAT, 20 Oct. 2026

Words fail and words subtract and words summarize and words always lack truth. — Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

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