decrease

/di-ˈkrēs/

Middle English decreessen, from Anglo-French decrestre, from Latin decrescere, from de- + crescere to grow

verb

  1. to grow progressively less (as in size, amount, number, or intensity)

  2. to cause to decrease

Yearly sales decreased by five percent.

decrease lessen diminish reduce abate dwindle mean to grow or make less. decrease suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity. lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number.

noun

  1. the process of growing progressively less (as in size, amount, number, or intensity) : the process of decreasing

  2. an amount of diminution : reduction

a decrease in productivity

idiom

  1. becoming less in size, amount, number, etc. : decreasing

The number of college applications is on the decrease.