decreased; decreasing
: to grow progressively less (as in size, amount, number, or intensity)
Yearly sales decreased by five percent.
His little remaining strength had been decreasing rapidly for two or three days preceding …—
Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
: to cause to decrease
decrease the risk of heart disease
trying to decrease our use of fossil fuels
1
: the process of growing progressively less (as in size, amount, number, or intensity) : the process of decreasing
a decrease in productivity
2
: an amount of diminution : reduction
a decrease of 20,000
saw a 20% decrease in violent crime
Synonyms
Examples of decrease in a Sentence
Verb
Sales decreased by five percent this year.
The driver decreased her speed as she approached the curve.
These changes will decrease our expenses.
Noun
Studies report a recent decrease in traffic accidents.
Because of the injury, some decrease in mobility is to be expected.
a decrease of three dollars
Recent Examples on the Web
Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
Two items better known for cleaning swimming pools and moisturizing dry skin might help protect the Earth’s corals and decrease antibiotic resistance and pollution in the ocean.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
Gold prices tend to rise in anticipation of a conflict, but when action takes place, the price remains the same or decreases.
—Sanford Mann, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for decrease 
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Verb
Selling and marketing expenses decreased to $0.03 million from $0.23 million, primarily due to a decrease in sales revenue.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
Two items better known for cleaning swimming pools and moisturizing dry skin might help protect the Earth’s corals and decrease antibiotic resistance and pollution in the ocean.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
This decrease is attributed to a reduction in transactions at existing centers.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
Gold prices tend to rise in anticipation of a conflict, but when action takes place, the price remains the same or decreases.
—Sanford Mann, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for decrease
Dictionary Entries Near decrease
Cite this Entry
“Decrease.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decrease. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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