decreaseverb [ I or T ]
uk/dɪˈkriːs/us/ˈdiː.kriːs/B1 to become less, or to make something become less:
Our share of the market has decreased sharply this year.
We have decreased our involvement in children's books.
Opposite
increase
More examples
- During the 1980s, the amount of ozone in the stratosphere above Europe decreased by about 8%.
- Total unemployment has decreased in the past year.
- The pop star's popularity decreased as he got older, which is only to be expected.
- The government proposed decreasing the annual expenditure on arms.
- To make the sleeve get narrower toward the cuff, you gradually decrease the number of stitches on your needle.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Becoming and making smaller or less
- a nip (here) and a tuck (there) idiom
- attenuate
- axe
- bite
- bite into sth
- dive
- drain
- let up
- lower
- make a hole in sth idiom
- miniaturization
- miniaturize
- minimize
- shrink
- slash
- strip sth away
- stripped down
- subside
- tail off
- take a tumble idiom
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decreasenoun [ C or U ]
uk/ˈdiː.kriːs/us/ˈdiː.kriːs/B1 a reduction:
There has been a steady decrease in the number of visitors.
I haven't noticed much decrease in interest.
More examples
- There was a slight decrease in his weight after a week of dieting.
- Any decrease in tourism could have a serious effect on the local economy.
- The report's finding on the decrease in violent crime supports the police chief's claims.
- We have seen a marked decrease in the number of accidents since these safety measures were introduced.
- We've noticed a steady decrease in jobs available for new graduates in the industry.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Becoming and making smaller or less
- a nip (here) and a tuck (there) idiom
- attenuate
- axe
- bite
- bite into sth
- dive
- drain
- let up
- lower
- make a hole in sth idiom
- miniaturization
- miniaturize
- minimize
- shrink
- slash
- strip sth away
- stripped down
- subside
- tail off
- take a tumble idiom
See more results »