Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense minimizes, present participle minimizing, past tense, past participle minimizedregional note: in BRIT, also use minimise
1. verb
If you minimize a risk, problem, or unpleasant situation, you reduce it to the lowest possible level, or prevent it increasing beyond that level.
Concerned people want to minimize the risk of developing cancer. [VERB noun]
Many of these problems can be minimised by sensible planning. [beVERB-ed]
Synonyms: reduce, decrease, shrink, diminish More Synonyms of minimize
2. verb
If you minimize something, you make it seem smaller or less significant than it really is.
Some have minimized the importance of ideological factors. [VERB noun]
At his trial, he tried to minimize his behavior. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: play down, discount, underestimate, belittle More Synonyms of minimize
3. verb
If you minimize a window on a computer screen, you make it very small, because you do not want to use it.
Click the square icon again to minimize the window. [VERB noun]
minimize in British English
or minimise (ˈmɪnɪˌmaɪz)
verb(transitive)
1.
to reduce to or estimate at the least possible degree or amount
to minimize a risk
2.
to rank or treat at less than the true worth; belittle
to minimize someone's achievements
Derived forms
minimization (ˌminimiˈzation) or minimisation (ˌminimiˈsation)
noun
minimizer (ˈminiˌmizer) or minimiser (ˈminiˌmiser)
noun
minimize in American English
(ˈmɪnɪˌmaɪz)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈminiˌmized or ˈminiˌmizing
1.
to reduce to a minimum; decrease to the least possible amount, degree, etc.
2.
to estimate or make appear to be of the least possible amount, value, or importance
SIMILAR WORDS: disˈparage
Derived forms
minimization (ˌminimiˈzation)
noun
minimizer (ˈminiˌmizer)
noun
Examples of 'minimize' in a sentence
minimize
Make sure these are fresh to minimize the amount of rancid oils present.
Holford, Patrick The Family Nutrition Workbook (1988)
Should we attempt to maximize or minimize the risks of escalation?
Mcinnes, Colin & Sheffield G.D (eds.) Warfare in the Twentieth Century (1988)
You then buy one and sell the other in proportions that minimize the risk of your net position.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
Regardless, your church should take care not to minimize the importance of these responsibilities.
Christianity Today (2000)
This weight-loss diet is very carefully balanced to help minimize these problems.
Kowalski, Robert E The 8-Week Cholesterol Cure (1990)
Attempts can be made to manage the adverse impacts of social change and minimize long-term risks.
Brindley,Tim & Rydin, Yvonne & Stoker, Gerry Remaking Planning: the politics of urban change in the Thatcher years (1989)
Also, financial planning does not attempt to minimize risk.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
We also know how to adjust doses based on blood counts, to minimize the risk in subsequent courses of treatment.
Laszlo, John (MD) Understanding Cancer (1987)
Third, in managing their assets, banks must attempt to minimize risk by diversifying.
Mishkin, Frederic S. Financial Markets, Institutions and Money (1995)
Managers must minimize the amount of attention devoted to products which produce primarily costs because, for instance, their volume is too small or too splintered.
Peter F. Drucker MANAGING FOR RESULTS (1986)
In other languages
minimize
British English: minimize /ˈmɪnɪˌmaɪz/ VERB
If you minimize a risk or problem, you reduce it to the lowest possible level.
It's worth trying to minimize the risk of accidents.