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

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

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

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English reducen “to lead back,” from 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.

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

How to use reduce in a sentence

Other research has hypothesized that masks can filter out some of the virus-carrying particles, reducing the viral dose and how ill the wearer may become.
Inconclusive results, missing data: Experts push back on a study questioning the efficacy of masks|Meryl Kornfield|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
Masking, social distancing and limited capacity can reduce the risk of transmission indoors but cannot eliminate it.
Virginia’s coronavirus numbers are rising. Here’s what you need to know.|Antonio Olivo|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
The experts made the recommendation after the results of a global trial sponsored by the WHO, called Solidarity, found last month that remdesivir didn’t reduce deaths.
WHO advises against using Gilead’s remdesivir to treat hospitalized COVID patients|Claire Zillman, reporter|November 20, 2020|Fortune
The city’s only free skating rink will reduce capacity by one-third and requires reservations for skating and rentals.
NYC for the holidays: The city’s classic traditions have been tweaked for the times|Andrea Sachs|November 19, 2020|Washington Post

Some have highlighted the decline in emissions this year as a positive sign for our collective ability to rapidly change behaviors and practices in ways that could reduce the risks of climate change.
US emissions plummeted this year—for all the wrong reasons|James Temple|November 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Getting men to do their share of care and domestic work is a key overlooked strategy in reducing poverty.
How Good Dads Can Change the World|Gary Barker, PhD, Michael Kaufman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This represents major progress in reducing conflict financing.
Aaron Rodgers Takes Aim at Congo’s ‘Blood Minerals’ War|John Prendergast|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yeah, I mean, as far as Maggie goes, her reducing a church to just “four walls and a roof” says a lot about the character.
‘Walking Dead’ Showrunner Scott Gimple Teases ‘Darker, Weirder’ Times Ahead|Melissa Leon|December 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It's also become the largest energy producer in the world, even while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Politics End In Halifax As Democratic and GOP Senators Seek Common Ground on National Security|Tim Mak|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Victorious Republican Gov. Nathan Deal boasted of his progress in reducing the number of incarcerated black men in Georgia.
How’d the GOP Win? By Running Left|Sally Kohn|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The discharge-valve was then opened for a moment, allowing a blast of steam to escape, reducing the pressure say to one-half.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
The children succeeded in catching the dog and reducing him to order, although it was clear he liked very much to chase hens.
The Box-Car Children|Gertrude Chandler Warner
The necessity of reducing these pirates is acknowledged in every prince's cabinet; yet no one undertakes their reduction.
A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 1 (of 10)|Franois-Marie Arouet (AKA Voltaire)
Dressed Monte's withers with liniment greatly reducing swelling from saddle-gall.
Cabin Fever|B. M. Bower
It contains directions for draining, clearing, and inclosing a farm, and for enriching the soil and reducing it to tillage.
Landholding In England|Joseph Fisher

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 related to reduce

How to use reduce in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for reduce

Derived forms of reduce

Word Origin for reduce