decrease

The word “decrease” means to become smaller in amount, size, or degree; or to cause something to become smaller. In plain terms, to get smaller, or a drop in amount — the opposite of increase.

“Decrease” is pronounced dih-KREES (/dɪˈkɹiːs/ in IPA).

Here is “decrease” used in a sentence: “Crime rates decreased significantly after the new policy was introduced.”

Words with a similar meaning to “decrease” include fall, go down, plummet, plunge, reduce and shrink.

The opposite of “decrease” — its antonyms — are go up, grow, increase, rise and soar.

Depending on how it is used, “decrease” can be a verb and a noun.

The word “decrease” comes from Latin. From Middle English decresen, via Old French descreistre, ultimately from Latin decrescere.

“Decrease” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

'Decrease' can be intransitive, meaning something becomes smaller on its own ('sales decreased'), or transitive. 'Reduce' is normally transitive and needs an object ('reduce prices'), emphasizing that someone or something causes the drop. Both describe things getting smaller, but 'reduce' more strongly implies a deliberate cause.

Both mean to go down in amount or level. 'Decrease' is a neutral, measurable drop in size, amount or degree. 'Decline' often suggests a gradual, sometimes worsening downward trend and can carry a sense of deterioration, as in a decline in health or standards.

As a noun, 'decrease' is usually followed by 'in' to name what is falling ('a decrease in sales') and by 'of' to give the amount ('a decrease of 10 percent'). You can combine them: 'a decrease of 10 percent in sales'.

They are opposites. To decrease is to become or make something smaller in amount, size or degree, while to increase is to become or make it larger. A decrease is a reduction; an increase is a rise.