reduce

verb

re·​duce ri-ˈdüs How to pronounce reduce (audio)
-ˈdyüs
reduced; reducing

transitive verb

1
a
: to draw together or cause to converge : consolidate
reduce all the questions to one
b(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 minutes
c
: to narrow down : restrict
peoples who were reduced to small reservations
d
: 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
4
a
: to force to capitulate
b
5
a
: to bring to a systematic form or character
reduce natural events to laws
b
: 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
7
a
: to lower in grade or rank : demote
b
: to lower in condition or status : downgrade
8
a
: to diminish in strength or density
b
: to diminish in value
9
a(1)
: to change the denominations or form of without changing the value
(2)
: to construct a geometrical figure similar to but smaller than (a given figure)
b
: to transpose from one form into another : convert
c
: to change (an expression) to an equivalent but more fundamental expression
reduce a fraction
10
: to break down (as by crushing or grinding) : pulverize
11
a
: to bring to the metallic state by removal of nonmetallic elements
reduce an ore by heat
b
c
: to combine with or subject to the action of hydrogen
d(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)
12
: to change (a stressed vowel) to an unstressed vowel

intransitive verb

1
a(1)
: to become diminished or lessened
especially : to lose weight by dieting
(2)
: to become reduced
ferric iron reduces to ferrous iron
b
: to become concentrated or consolidated
c
: to undergo meiosis
2
: to become converted or equated
reducer noun
reducibility noun
reducible adjective
reducibly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for reduce

decrease, lessen, diminish, reduce, abate, dwindle mean to grow or make less.

decrease suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity.

slowly decreased the amount of pressure

lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number.

has been unable to lessen her debt

diminish emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total.

his visual acuity has diminished

reduce implies a bringing down or lowering.

you must reduce your caloric intake

abate implies a reducing of something excessive or oppressive in force or amount.

the storm abated

dwindle implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller.

their provisions dwindled slowly

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

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 on the Web The funding will come from the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, a law signed by Biden in 2022 to invest $200 billion in domestic production of semiconductor computer chips with the goal of reducing U.S. dependence on overseas chip manufacturers. CBS News, 20 Mar. 2024 Keyword: absorb; on the other hand, antiperspirants contain aluminum salts, which physically block sweat glands, and are therefore more generally more effective at reducing moisture. Lindy Segal, Glamour, 20 Mar. 2024 The Obama administration used that statistic in 2016 to recommend reducing the cap on co-pays from 10 percent to 7 percent for those receiving subsidy vouchers. Elliot Haspel, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2024 Maintaining a healthy weight is the best preventative measure to reduce the risk of endometrial cancer. Deanna Taylor, Essence, 20 Mar. 2024 As a result, configuration management is becoming an increasingly standard approach that companies use to reduce their cyberthreat vulnerability. IEEE Spectrum, 19 Mar. 2024 This could reduce cost and complexity for manufacturers and potentially bring more choice to consumers. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 19 Mar. 2024 President Joe Biden’s October 2023 Executive Order on AI instructed DHS to prepare a plan to ensure the safety of AI systems used in critical infrastructure, like power grids, to reduce the risks that AI could be used to create bioweapons or other weapons of mass destruction. Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2024 But the Justice Department dropped the case amid internal questions about its solidity and blowback from the Mexican government, which threatened to drastically reduce anti-drug cooperation. Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reduce.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, to lead back, from Latin reducere, from re- + ducere to lead — more at tow entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of reduce was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near reduce

Cite this Entry

“Reduce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reduce. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

reduce

verb
re·​duce ri-ˈd(y)üs How to pronounce reduce (audio)
reduced; reducing
1
: to make smaller in size, amount, or number
reduce the number of accidents
especially : to lose weight by dieting
2
: to bring to a specified state or condition
3
a
: to lower in grade or rank : demote
b
: to be driven by poverty or need
was reduced to begging
c
: to lessen the strength of
4
: to change an arithmetic expression to a simpler form without changing its value
reduce a fraction to lowest terms
5
: to break down (as by crushing or grinding)
reduce stone to powder
6
a
b
: to combine with or subject to the action of hydrogen
c
: to add one or more electrons to (an atom or ion or molecule)
reducer noun
reducibility noun
reducible adjective

Medical Definition

reduce

verb
re·​duce ri-ˈd(y)üs How to pronounce reduce (audio)
reduced; reducing

transitive verb

1
: to correct (as a fracture or a herniated mass) by bringing displaced or broken parts back into their normal positions
2
a
: to bring to the metallic state by removal of nonmetallic elements
reduce an ore by heat
b
c
: to combine with or subject to the action of hydrogen
d(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)

intransitive verb

1
: to become diminished or lessened
especially : to lose weight by dieting
2
: to become reduced
ferric iron reduces to ferrous iron
3
: to undergo meiosis

Legal Definition

reduce

transitive verb
re·​duce ri-ˈdüs, -ˈdyüs How to pronounce reduce (audio)
reduced; reducing
1
: to make smaller
2
a
: 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 damagesHaynes 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 claimUniform Commercial Code
reducible adjective
reducibly adverb
reduction noun

More from Merriam-Webster on reduce

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!