as in to deduct
to take away (an amount or number) from a total
if you subtract 10 from 23, you get 13 you can subtract the time you spent daydreaming from your total homework time
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Recent Examples of subtract
To isolate the jet, the researchers carefully subtracted starlight, dust and background galaxies, leaving behind the most detailed infrared portrait of M87's outflow ever assembled, according to a paper the team published last week in the journal Astronomy and Astrophysics.
—
Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2025
The animators had to observe their surroundings, observe people move, and then subtract and abstract the key movements that onscreen deliver some kind of purpose or nuance.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Linklater took a more aggressive directorial tack than usual, pushing Hawke to subtract any mannerisms that smacked too much of himself.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025
Business inventories also shrank, subtracting over three percentage points from GDP.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtract
Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2025
The animators had to observe their surroundings, observe people move, and then subtract and abstract the key movements that onscreen deliver some kind of purpose or nuance.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025
Linklater took a more aggressive directorial tack than usual, pushing Hawke to subtract any mannerisms that smacked too much of himself.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2025
Business inventories also shrank, subtracting over three percentage points from GDP.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for subtract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subtract
deduct
Verb
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You are entitled to a refund of the security deposit or any balance left after deducting legitimate charges, according to Legal Aid of North Carolina.—
Kendrick Marshall,
Charlotte Observer,
17 Oct. 2025
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People receiving a state income tax refund have the amount of their delinquent parking citations deducted from their refund.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Subtract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subtract. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
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