reduce

[ ri-doos, -dyoos ]

/ rɪˈdus, -ˈdyus /

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See synonyms for: reduce / reduced / reducing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), re·duced, re·duc·ing.

to bring down to a smaller extent, size, amount, number, etc.: to reduce one's weight by 10 pounds.

to lower in degree, intensity, etc.: to reduce the speed of a car.

to bring down to a lower rank, dignity, etc.: a sergeant reduced to a corporal

to treat analytically, as a complex idea.

to lower in price.

to bring to a certain state, condition, arrangement, etc.: to reduce glass to powder.

to bring under control or authority.

Cooking. to evaporate water from (a sauce, soup, or other liquid), usually by boiling.

Photography. to lessen the density of (an exposed negative).

to adjust or correct by making allowances, as an astronomical observation.

Mathematics. to change the denomination or form, but not the value, of (a fraction, polynomial, etc.).

Chemistry.

to add electrons to.
to deoxidize.
to add hydrogen to.
to change (a compound) so that the valence of the positive element is lower.

Chemistry, Metallurgy. to bring into the metallic state by separating from nonmetallic constituents.

to thin or dilute: to reduce paint with oil or turpentine.

to lower the alcoholic concentration of (spirits) by diluting with water.

Surgery. to restore to the normal place, relation, or condition, as a fractured bone.

Phonetics. to modify the quality of (a speech sound) to one of lesser distinctiveness, especially to pronounce (an unstressed vowel) as (ə) or another centralized vowel, as in the unstressed syllables of medicinal.

verb (used without object), re·duced, re·duc·ing.

to become reduced.

to become lessened, especially in weight.

to be turned into or made to equal something: All our difficulties reduce to financial problems.

Cell Biology. to undergo meiosis.

OTHER WORDS FOR reduce

1 diminish, decrease, shorten, abridge, curtail, contract, retrench.

1, 2 lessen, attenuate, abate.

3 degrade, demote, humble.

7 subdue, subjugate, conquer, subject, vanquish, overcome, overpower.

See synonyms for reduce on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR reduce

1 increase.

3 elevate, exalt.

See antonyms for reduce on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of reduce

1325–75; Middle English reducen to lead back <Latin redūcere to lead back, bring back, equivalent to re-re- + dūcere to lead

OTHER WORDS FROM reduce

an·ti·re·duc·ing, adjective, nounnon·re·duc·ing, adjectiveo·ver·re·duce, verb, o·ver·re·duced, o·ver·re·duc·ing.

Words nearby reduce

red tape, red tide, redtop, Red Tory, red trillium, reduce, reduced, reduced level, reduced mass, reduced paid-up insurance, reducer

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use reduce in a sentence

Facebook is also today reminding users of its rules to reduce the spread of groups tied to violence.
Facebook tries to clean up Groups with new policies|Sarah Perez|September 17, 2020|TechCrunch
So in addition to reducing emissions at home, we need to make it likelier that those countries will reduce their emissions, too.
Want to fight climate change effectively? Here’s where to donate your money.|Sigal Samuel|September 17, 2020|Vox
Google announced at the start of September it would reduce the visibility of search terms shown in reports for advertisers.
How much does Google’s new search term filtering affect ad spend transparency? Here’s how to find out|Frederick Vallaeys|September 16, 2020|Search Engine Land
Now Israel can claim it has more friends in the region, possibly reducing the pressure on it regarding its relations with Palestinians.
Trump announces that Bahrain will normalize relations with Israel|Alex Ward|September 11, 2020|Vox

In an interview with VOSD’s Scott Lewis this week, a top aide to Mayor Kevin Faulconer noted that the estimate now includes a 45 percent contingency and could be reduced as general contracting firm Kitchell digs in further.
Morning Report: Downtown Jail Outbreak Goes From Bad to Worse|Voice of San Diego|September 11, 2020|Voice of San Diego
Having a criminal record can reduce the likelihood of getting a callback or job offer by 50 percent.
His First Day Out Of Jail After 40 Years: Adjusting To Life Outside|Justin Rohrlich|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We kind of reduce things to the lowest common denominator, in some ways for good and in some ways not for good.
Daphne Merkin on Lena Dunham, Book Criticism, and Self-Examination|Mindy Farabee|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Heat the rum in a small skillet over medium until reduce by half.
Carla Hall’s Christmas Day Treat: Rum Balls|Carla Hall|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Like background check laws across the country, it will help keep guns out of dangerous hands, reduce gun crime, and save lives.
The NRA’s Twisted List for Santa|John Feinblatt|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The studio took him at his word and jumped at the chance to close down, or at least reduce, his costly operation.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However, in the visit that I shall make in this archbishopric, I shall try to reduce them to as few settlements as possible.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
He will rattle on in Spanish till Herr S. gets desperate, and tries to reduce him to order.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
This would reduce the available time for direct manual labour at his disposal.
Antonio Stradivari|Horace William Petherick
I will take care to reduce the weight if possible, so as to be carried on the backs of mules.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
But a bank can retain a dividend that has been declared to reduce the indebtedness of the owner to the bank for his stock.
Putnam's Handy Law Book for the Layman|Albert Sidney Bolles

British Dictionary definitions for reduce

reduce

/ (rɪˈdjuːs) /

verb (mainly tr)

(also intr) to make or become smaller in size, number, extent, degree, intensity, etc

to bring into a certain state, condition, etcto reduce a forest to ashes; to reduce someone to despair

(also intr) to make or become slimmer; lose or cause to lose excess weight

to impoverish (esp in the phrase in reduced circumstances)

to bring into a state of submission to one's authority; subjugatethe whole country was reduced after three months

to bring down the price of (a commodity)the shirt was reduced in the sale

to lower the rank or status of; demotehe was reduced from corporal to private; reduced to the ranks

to set out systematically as an aid to understanding; simplifyhis theories have been reduced in a popular treatise

maths to modify or simplify the form of (an expression or equation), esp by substitution of one term by another

cookery to make (a sauce, stock, etc) more concentrated by boiling away some of the water in it

to thin out (paint) by adding oil, turpentine, etc; dilute

(also intr) chem

to undergo or cause to undergo a chemical reaction with hydrogen or formation of a hydride
to lose or cause to lose oxygen atoms
to undergo or cause to undergo an increase in the number of electronsCompare oxidize

photog to lessen the density of (a negative or print) by converting some of the blackened silver in the emulsion to soluble silver compounds by an oxidation process using a photographic reducer

surgery to manipulate or reposition (a broken or displaced bone, organ, or part) back to its normal site

(also intr) biology to undergo or cause to undergo meiosis

Derived forms of reduce

reducible, adjectivereducibility, nounreducibly, adverb

Word Origin for reduce

C14: from Latin redūcere to bring back, from re- + dūcere to lead

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

reduce

OTHER WORDS FOR reduce

OPPOSITES FOR reduce

Origin of reduce

OTHER WORDS FROM reduce

Words nearby reduce

Words related to reduce

How to use reduce in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for reduce

Derived forms of reduce

Word Origin for reduce