decreasing

American  

[dih-kree-sing] / dɪˈkri sɪŋ /

adjective

1. becoming less or fewer; diminishing.

2. Mathematics. (of a function) having the property that for any two points in the domain such that one is larger than the other, the image of the larger point is less than or equal to the image of the smaller point; nonincreasing.

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Usage

What does decreasing mean? Decreasing is an adjective that means lessening or in decline—becoming less in number, amount, size, or in some other way.It comes from the continuous tense (-ing form) of the verb decrease, which means to lessen or become reduced in number, amount, size, or in some other way, as in Our profits will continue to decrease unless we cut costs.The word decreased can also be used as an adjective to describe things that have lessened or declined, as in a decreased appetite.Example: Decreasing sales have forced the company to cut costs.

Other Word Forms

• decreasingly adverb
• undecreasing adjective
• undecreasingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of decreasing

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; decrease, -ing ²

Example Sentences

So the value of the structure is actually decreasing every year,” one man wrote.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 28, 2026

The U.S. homicide rate fell last year to a projected 125-year low, with other reported crimes also decreasing, according to a report.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 14, 2026

Rising costs and decreasing reliability are a dangerous mix for an industry that isn’t particularly popular even in good times.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

That annual return will continue over the decades while slowly decreasing each year as the assets are depreciated, Ellis said.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

There were only some decreasing ripples on the surface of the moat.

From "My Life with the Chimpanzees" by Jane Goodall

Related Words

• collapsing
• descending
• lowering
• plunging
• sliding
• tumbling
• weakening