Decreased

/dɪˈkriːst/

verbBeginner🔥Very CommonAction
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To make or become smaller or fewer.

/dɪˈkriːst/

verbneutralBeginner
Action

To become smaller or less in size, amount, intensity, or degree.

The amount of rain decreased after the storm passed.

💡 Simply: Imagine you have a big pile of candy. If you *decreased* the candy, it means some went away, and you have less! Like when you eat some, or give some to a friend.

👶 For kids: To get smaller or less.

More Examples

2

As the economy weakened, job opportunities decreased.

3

The doctor advised her to decrease her caffeine intake.

How It's Used

Business

"The company's profits decreased significantly this quarter."

Science

"The temperature decreased overnight."

General

"My energy level decreased after a long day."

2

Having been made less.

/dɪˈkriːst/

adjectiveneutralIntermediate
State

Having become smaller or less.

Decreased demand caused a drop in prices.

💡 Simply: If your room is *decreased* in size, it's smaller than it was before. If your excitement is *decreased*, you're not as excited as you used to be.

👶 For kids: Smaller than before.

More Examples

2

The researchers observed decreased activity in the test subjects.

3

The patient reported decreased pain after receiving the treatment.

How It's Used

Business

"Decreased sales led to budget cuts."

Health

"The patient showed decreased blood pressure after medication."

Tip:Think of it as describing something after it has been diminished.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

decrease in value

To become worth less money.

"The value of the stock decreased significantly during the economic downturn."

From Middle English decrecen, from Old French decreistre, from Latin decrescere (“to diminish, decrease”), from de- (“down, away”) + crescere (“to grow”).

Historically used in scientific and economic texts to describe changes in quantity or value.

Memory tip

Think of the opposite of "increase".

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to diminish, decrease"

Base: decrease
significantly decreasedslightly decreasedgradually decreaseda decreased amountdecreased salesdecreased value

Common misspellings

decreseddecraseddecreated

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written