minimize
gb/mˈɪnəmˌaɪz/ us/mˈɪnəmˌaɪz/
B2
English
~ 7900
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
reduce something as much as possible
To make something, usually a bad thing, as small or low as possible.
Usage pattern:
to minimize [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *"minimalize"* instead of *"minimize"*. The correct spelling in modern English is *minimize* (or *minimise* in British English). Learners also overuse it in everyday speech where *"make smaller"* or *"cut"* would be more natural.
Synonyms
reduce (More general and common; does not always suggest making something as small as possible.)
|
limit (Emphasizes putting a boundary on something rather than driving it to the lowest possible level.)
Antonyms
maximize (Means to increase something to the greatest possible amount, the opposite of making it as small as possible.)
|
increase (General opposite of making something smaller in amount or level.)
Collocations
minimize risk
|minimize damage
|minimize costs
|minimize errors
|minimize waste
|minimize impact
Themes
business
|safety
|science
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- We need to minimize the risk of data loss during the upgrade.
- The new design helps minimize energy consumption without reducing performance.
- Seat belts are designed to minimize injuries in a crash.
- They installed soundproof windows to minimize traffic noise in the office.
- Good planning can minimize delays on a project of this size.
Learner examples
- Wash your hands to minimize the chance of getting sick.
- The company wants to minimize costs this year.
- He drove slowly to minimize the damage to the car.
- They turned off the lights to minimize energy use.
- We can minimize mistakes by checking the work twice.
Verb
C1
action
2
play down importance or seriousness
To say or act like something is not very important or serious, even when it is.
Usage pattern:
to minimize [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this sense with the "reduce" sense and say things like *"The teacher minimized the test"* when they mean the teacher made the test shorter. In this sense, *minimize* refers to how something is described or treated, not its actual size or length.
Synonyms
downplay (Very close in meaning; common in news and everyday speech for describing how people talk about problems.)
|
play down (Phrasal verb version; slightly more informal and conversational.)
Antonyms
exaggerate (Means to present something as more important or serious than it is, the opposite of playing it down.)
|
overstate (Formal term for making something seem greater or more serious, contrasting with minimizing it.)
Collocations
minimize the problem
|minimize the issue
|minimize the seriousness
|minimize concerns
|minimize the impact
Themes
communication
|emotions
|politics
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company tried to minimize the problem in its public statement.
- He tends to minimize his own achievements when talking to others.
- Officials were accused of minimizing the risks to the local community.
- She minimized the conflict, calling it a simple misunderstanding.
- The report does not minimize the challenges but offers practical solutions.
Learner examples
- He minimized the accident and said it was nothing.
- The manager minimized the problem when he spoke to the staff.
- She always minimizes her success and gives others the credit.
- The government did not want to minimize the danger to the public.
- Do not minimize his feelings; he is really upset.
Verb
technical
B2
action
3
shrink a computer window
On a computer, to make a window go small and hide it, usually to the taskbar or dock.
Usage pattern:
to minimize [a window/application]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"make it small"* or *"turn it off"* when they mean *minimize*. *Minimize* does not close a program; it only hides the window on the screen.
Synonyms
hide (Informal description of the result; does not refer to the specific window function or button.)
Antonyms
maximize (In graphical interfaces, this makes the window fill the screen or return to full size, the opposite of minimizing it.)
|
restore (Returns a minimized or maximized window to its previous size and position.)
Collocations
minimize the window
|minimize all windows
|click minimize
|automatically minimize
|minimize the app
Themes
technology
|computing
Examples
- If the program freezes, try minimizing the window and opening it again.
- You can minimize all windows by pressing this keyboard shortcut.
- She minimized the video call so she could check her email.
- The app automatically minimizes to the system tray when you close it.
- Please minimize the presentation window while we adjust the settings.
Learner examples
- Click this button to minimize the window.
- I minimized the game and opened my email.
- You can minimize all windows with this key.
- The chat will minimize when you close it.
- He minimized the browser to see the desktop.
Verb
technical
C2
action
4
make a quantity least possible
In math, to find or make the lowest possible value of a number or function, often with some rules.
Usage pattern:
to minimize [a function/quantity]
Synonyms
optimize (Broader technical term for making something as effective as possible, not only making it smaller.)
Antonyms
maximize (In mathematics, to make a function or quantity as large as possible, the direct opposite of minimizing it.)
Collocations
minimize the function
|minimize error
|minimize the cost function
|minimize energy
|minimize distance
Themes
mathematics
|science
|education
Examples
- The goal of this algorithm is to minimize the total cost function.
- We use calculus to minimize the distance traveled under these constraints.
- This model minimizes prediction error on the training data.
- They designed the system to minimize energy use while meeting demand.
- To solve the problem, we first define what quantity we want to minimize.
Learner examples
- In this problem, we minimize the value of the function.
- The program finds the line that minimizes the error.
- Engineers try to minimize weight but keep the strength.
- We want to minimize cost in this model.
- The method minimizes risk under the given rules.
Grammar
Dictionary form
minimize
IPA
GB/mˈɪnəmˌaɪz/
US/mˈɪnəmˌaɪz/
Syllables & stress
min - im - ize (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (min)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: minimize
- 3rd Person Singular: minimizes
- Present Participle: minimizing
- Past: minimized
Word family
Expressions
minimize costs
1/mˈɪnəmˌaɪz kˈɔsts/
fixed phrase
reduce expenses as much as possible
To spend as little money as you can.
Examples
- The company is trying to minimize costs by moving production overseas.
- To minimize costs, we bought materials in bulk.
- They redesigned the product to minimize costs without losing quality.
minimize damage
1/mˈɪnəmˌaɪz dˈæmɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
reduce harm as much as possible
To make the harm or destruction as small as possible.
Examples
- Firefighters worked quickly to minimize damage to nearby homes.
- We covered the furniture to minimize damage during the move.
- The company acted fast to minimize damage to its reputation.
minimize disruption
1/mˈɪnəmˌaɪz dɪsɹˈʌpʃən/
fixed phrase
reduce interruption or disturbance
To make sure normal activities are interrupted as little as possible.
Examples
- Construction will take place at night to minimize disruption to local businesses.
- We changed the schedule to minimize disruption for students.
- The airline wants to minimize disruption during the system upgrade.
minimize downtime
1/mˈɪnəmˌaɪz dˈaʊntˌaɪm/
fixed phrase
technical
reduce time a system is offline
To make the time when a machine or service is not working as short as possible.
Examples
- Regular maintenance helps minimize downtime on the servers.
- We upgraded the system over the weekend to minimize downtime for users.
- The team worked quickly to minimize downtime after the outage.
minimize errors
1/mˈɪnəmˌaɪz ˈɛɹɚz/
fixed phrase
reduce mistakes as much as possible
To try to make as few mistakes as possible.
Examples
- Double-check your work to minimize errors.
- The new system is designed to minimize errors in data entry.
- Training can help minimize errors in the lab.
minimize impact
1/mˈɪnəmˌaɪz ˈɪmpækt/
fixed phrase
reduce negative effects
To make the bad effects of something as small as possible.
Examples
- We scheduled the repairs at night to minimize impact on traffic.
- The plan aims to minimize impact on the local environment.
- They tried to minimize impact on customers during the software update.
minimize the risk
1/mˈɪnəmˌaɪz ðə ɹˈɪsk/
fixed phrase
reduce the chance of harm
To make it as unlikely as possible that something bad will happen.
Examples
- Always wear safety goggles to minimize the risk of eye injury.
- We took several steps to minimize the risk of infection during the procedure.
- Divers use special equipment to minimize the risk of running out of air.
minimize waste
1/mˈɪnəmˌaɪz wˈeɪst/
fixed phrase
reduce things thrown away
To make sure as little as possible is thrown away or not used.
Examples
- The factory changed its process to minimize waste.
- To minimize waste, we recycle paper and plastic.
- Careful planning can minimize waste in the kitchen.