1 de·crease
Pronounced:
/dɪˈkri:s/
Function:
verbInflected forms:
de·creas·es; de·creased; de·creas·ingMeaning:
1 [no obj] : to become smaller in size, amount, number, etc. ▪ Sales decreased by five percent this year. ▪ The population is decreasing steadily. = The population is steadily decreasing in size.
2 [+ obj] : to make (something) smaller in size, amount, number, etc. ▪ By exercising often, you can decrease [=reduce, lower] your chance of developing heart disease. ▪ The driver decreased her speed as she approached the curve. ▪ These changes will decrease our expenses. —opposite increase
2 [+ obj] : to make (something) smaller in size, amount, number, etc. ▪ By exercising often, you can decrease [=reduce, lower] your chance of developing heart disease. ▪ The driver decreased her speed as she approached the curve. ▪ These changes will decrease our expenses. —opposite increase
—decreased adjective ▪ The patient has a decreased appetite. ▪ a decreased risk of heart disease
—decreasingly adverb ▪ The medication has been decreasingly effective. [=has gradually been becoming less effective]