minimize

American  

[min-uh-mahyz] / ˈmɪn əˌmaɪz /

especially British, minimise

verb (used with object)

• minimizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• minimized,
  past participle,  past
• minimizing
  present participle

1. 

   to reduce to the smallest possible amount or degree.

2. to represent at the lowest possible amount, value, importance, influence, etc., especially in a disparaging way; belittle.

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minimize British  

/ ˈmɪnɪˌmaɪz /

verb

1. to reduce to or estimate at the least possible degree or amount

   to minimize a risk

2. to rank or treat at less than the true worth; belittle

   to minimize someone's achievements

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• minimization
  noun
• minimizer
  noun
• unminimized
  adjective
• unminimizing
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• minimizing
  present
• minimized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• minimize
  simple
• minimizes
  simple
• have minimized
  perfect
• has minimized
  perfect
• am minimizing
  progressive
• are minimizing
  progressive
• is minimizing
  progressive
• have been minimizing
  perfect progressive
• has been minimizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• minimized
  simple
• had minimized
  perfect
• was minimizing
  progressive
• were minimizing
  progressive
• had been minimizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will minimize
  simple
• will have minimized
  perfect
• will be minimizing
  progressive
• will have been minimizing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of minimize

First recorded in 1795–1805; minim(um) + -ize

Explanation

The verb minimize describes making something smaller or less serious. It typically refers to something negative that is being reduced, like when you eat at home instead of in restaurants to minimize expenses. To correctly pronounce minimize, accent the first syllable, which gets the short i sound: "MIH-nuh-mize." Minimize looks like minimum, which has the same spelling and meaning in English and Latin: smallest. To minimize something is to reduce it to its smallest amount — in size or importance. Other related words include minimal, miniscule, minute, and mini.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

minimize minimizes minimized minimizing

“We funded Chinook helicopters to drop more water and foam on the fire. We were doing anything we could, at frankly any expense, to try to minimize the impact of this fire on the community.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026

Though it’s always best to avoid or at least minimize long-lasting card balances, Wise said “it’s maybe a bit more urgent.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026

Try keeping them in a smaller space, like a crate, to minimize overstimulation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

Samsung did a lot of work to minimize the crease—the dip between the two halves of the big interior display—but it’s still clearly there.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

He struggled again, and I calmly wrapped him in a hug, trying to minimize the scene as much as possible.

From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely

Saylor’s answer was that his involvement minimizes risks and swings.

From Slate ● Sep. 20, 2026

Turning off the faucet: Antiretroviral therapy doesn't eliminate HIV altogether, but it minimizes its ability to replicate.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026

As for your dinner: Anyone who minimizes your agency — whether it’s a friend or an acquaintance who is selling you something — is to be avoided.

From MarketWatch ● May 27, 2026

Los Azules has promised to use an extraction method that minimizes water use.

From Barron's ● May 23, 2026

Classic style minimizes abstractions, which cannot be seen with the naked eye.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

In the past year, six members of Congress have died in office, and while a couple were surprises, most of them had health issues they minimized or ignored until it was too late.

From Salon ● Aug. 3, 2026

"Strikingly, when this receptor was removed from the mice, the development of arterial plaques dropped significantly in some areas and disruptions to the gut microbiome were minimized."

From Science Daily ● Jun. 9, 2026

“The fastball was good, slider was good, used the curveball, minimized hits.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026

Over a quarter of UBS family offices surveyed for an annual report said they have minimized or plan to cut their holdings in dollar assets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

Officer Delinko’s role in the capture of the fleeing criminal was conveniently minimized.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

Tokenized trading will also support traded companies seeking innovative ways to reach investors, while also easing the movement of assets between different corners of the market and minimizing “isolated pools of liquidity,” the exchange said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

The act, adopted in 1970, has been credited for protecting California’s natural resources and minimizing pollution.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026

Scientists would also need to establish an appropriate dose that provides benefits safely while minimizing the risk of harmful interactions with other medications.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026

“Retirement planning isn’t about minimizing taxes this year, it’s about minimizing taxes over your lifetime,” said Easton Price, a certified financial planner at Prosperity Wealth Planning.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 8, 2026

Pollard had delivered a masterpiece of reinsmanship, avoiding the traps and saving ground while minimizing his run along the boggy rail.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Related Words

• curtail
• decrease
• diminish
• downplay
• lessen
• play down
• reduce
• trivialize
• underestimate