decrease
decrease — verb
1. what happens when the level of something — such as a price, temperature, or popu
what happens when the level of something — such as a price, temperature, or population — drops to a lower point. It can also be used when a person takes action to bring a level down on purpose.
Xiu's doctor decreased the dosage of her medication after her blood test results improved.
transitive: decrease + noun phrase (dosage)
The number of visitors to the national park decreased sharply after the wildfire last summer.
intransitive: decrease + adverb (sharply)
As the night went on, the temperature outside decreased by almost eight degrees.
Ife decided to decrease her monthly spending on takeout food to save more money.
Ryo noticed that his stress levels decreased after he started practicing yoga every morning.
- reduce
Almost always transitive — you reduce something. Decrease can be both transitive and intransitive.
- drop
Suggests a more sudden or steep change; often used for prices, temperatures, or numbers.
- decline
Emphasizes a gradual, continuous reduction, especially in quality, health, or numbers.
- lessen
Focuses on reduction in degree or intensity rather than quantity; less common in formal data contexts.
- increase
The direct opposite — to become larger or make something larger.
文法句型
decrease + by + amount/percentage
decrease + adverb (significantly / sharply / gradually)
decrease + noun phrase (transitive)
decrease from X to Y
用法筆記
Frequently used with by + number or percentage to state how much something changes. Both transitive (someone decreases something) and intransitive (something decreases) uses are common.
常見錯誤
decrease — noun
1. a change in which something moves to a lower amount, number, or size — covering
a change in which something moves to a lower amount, number, or size — covering both the ongoing process and the specific size of that change. An example would be a drop in sales or a fall in temperature.
The town reported a significant decrease in crime rates after the new community program began.
a decrease in + noun phrase
Shirin reported a 15 percent decrease in her monthly electricity bill after installing solar panels.
Doctors were pleased to see a decrease of nearly 200 cases of the disease this year.
Many schools saw a sharp decrease in students choosing to study abroad last year.
The company's sudden decrease in sales surprised everyone in the industry.
- reduction
Closest synonym; both used in similar contexts, but reduction often emphasizes an intentional act of making something smaller.
- drop
Suggests a sudden or steep downward change; common in finance and weather reporting.
- decline
Implies a gradual and often continuous reduction, especially in numbers, quality, or health.
- fall
Often used with prices, temperatures, or values; similar to drop but can be more dramatic.
- increase
The direct opposite — a rise in number, size, or degree.
文法句型
a decrease in + noun phrase
a decrease of + number/percentage
a decrease from X to Y
用法筆記
Use in + noun to specify what is being reduced (a decrease in profits). Use of + number to specify the size of the reduction (a decrease of 5 percent). The noun can be both countable (a decrease, decreases) and uncountable (a decrease in value is expected).