decrease
gb/dˈikɹˌis/ us/dˈikɹˌis/
A2
English
~ 5000
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
Make something smaller or less
To make something less in number, size, or amount.
Usage pattern:
to decrease [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'decrease' with 'decline'. 'Decrease' is often used for deliberate action, while 'decline' can mean something happens naturally or is refused.
Synonyms
reduce (More common and general; can be used in more contexts.)
|
lower (Often used for numbers, levels, or measurements.)
Antonyms
increase (Means to make something greater in amount, size, or degree.)
Collocations
decrease costs
|decrease speed
|decrease temperature
|decrease risk
|decrease production
Themes
business
|science
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company plans to decrease its carbon emissions by 20%.
- You should decrease the heat once the water starts boiling.
- They decided to decrease the price to attract more customers.
- Regular exercise can decrease your risk of heart disease.
Learner examples
- Please decrease the volume.
- We will decrease the price.
- The doctor told me to decrease my sugar intake.
- Decrease the speed when driving in the rain.
Verb
A2
action
2
Become smaller or less
To get less in number, size, or amount.
Usage pattern:
[something] decreases
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'decrease' transitively when they mean intransitively. For example, 'The company decreased' instead of 'The company's profits decreased.'
Synonyms
drop (Informal; often used for sudden changes.)
|
diminish (Slightly more formal; often used in academic contexts.)
Antonyms
increase (Means to become greater in amount, size, or degree.)
Collocations
sales decrease
|temperature decreases
|population decreases
Themes
science
|business
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The population of the town has decreased over the last decade.
- As the sun sets, the temperature decreases quickly.
- Profits decreased by 15% this year.
Learner examples
- The number of students decreased.
- My weight decreased after I started running.
- Sales decreased last month.
Noun
A2
entity
3
A reduction in size or amount
A change that makes something less in number, size, or amount.
Synonyms
reduction (More common and general; used widely in formal and informal contexts.)
|
drop (More informal; often used for sudden changes.)
Antonyms
increase (Means a rise in amount, size, or degree.)
Collocations
a decrease in sales
|sharp decrease
|slight decrease
Themes
business
|science
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- There was a sharp decrease in crime rates last year.
- We noticed a slight decrease in customer satisfaction.
- A decrease in rainfall has affected crop production.
Learner examples
- There is a big decrease in prices.
- We saw a decrease in visitors this year.
- The report shows a decrease in accidents.
Grammar
Dictionary form
decrease
IPA
GB/dˈikɹˌis/
US/dˈikɹˌis/
Syllables & stress
de - crease (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (de)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: decrease
- Plural: decrease, decreases
Verb
- Base: decrease
- 3rd Person Singular: decreases
- Present Participle: decreasing
- Past: decreased
Word family
Expressions
decrease by half
1/dˈikɹˌis bˈaɪ hˈæf/
fixed phrase
Reduce to half the amount
To make something 50% less than before.
Examples
- The company decreased its waste by half last year.
- You should decrease your sugar intake by half for better health.
decrease over time
1/dˈikɹˌis ˈoʊvɚ tˈaɪm/
fixed phrase
Gradually become less over time
To slowly get smaller or less as time goes by.
Examples
- The pain will decrease over time.
- Interest rates are expected to decrease over time.
decrease the risk of
1/dɪkɹˈis ðə ɹˈɪsk əv/
fixed phrase
Reduce the chance of something happening
To make it less likely that something bad will happen.
Examples
- Wearing a helmet decreases the risk of head injury.
- Eating more vegetables can decrease the risk of heart disease.