reduce
26 synonyms and 0 antonyms for reduce, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To make something smaller in size, amount, or intensity.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use reduce
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin reducere, \"to lead back,\" from re- (\"back\") plus ducere (\"to lead\").
Full origin of reduce →Frequently asked questions
What does “reduce” mean?
The word “reduce” means to make something smaller in size, amount, or intensity. In plain terms, to make smaller, weaker, or simpler — from cutting costs to thickening a sauce to setting a broken bone.
How do you pronounce “reduce”?
“Reduce” is pronounced rih-JOOS (/ɹɪˈd(j)us/ in IPA).
How do you use “reduce” in a sentence?
Here is “reduce” used in a sentence: “The company reduced its workforce by ten percent.”
What part of speech is “reduce”?
“Reduce” is a verb.
Where does the word “reduce” come from?
The word “reduce” comes from Latin. From Latin reducere, \"to lead back,\" from re- (\"back\") plus ducere (\"to lead\").
Is “reduce” a common word?
“Reduce” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “reduce” have?
“Reduce” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make something smaller in size, amount, or intensity.
What is the opposite of reduce?
The main opposite is increase — to make something larger in size, amount, or intensity. Other antonyms include raise, expand, boost, and grow. Where reduce shrinks a quantity, these words build it up. Which one fits best depends on context: you raise a price but expand a business.
What is the difference between reduce and minimise?
Both mean making something smaller, but to different degrees. Reduce simply means to lower an amount or intensity by any amount. Minimise means to reduce something as far as possible, to its smallest or least harmful level. You might reduce costs a little, but minimising them means cutting them to the bone.
What does reduce mean in cooking?
In cooking, to reduce a liquid means to simmer or boil it so that water evaporates, leaving a smaller, thicker, more concentrated result. A sauce or stock is 'reduced' to intensify its flavour. It is a specialised use of the general sense — making something smaller in volume.