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Definition of "decrease" []

  • To grow or cause to grow gradually less or smaller, as in number, amount, or intensity. (verb-transitive)
  • The act or process of decreasing. (noun)
  • The amount by which something decreases. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "decrease" in a sentence
  • "When you're in school now, the overreaction to this and that and the strictness and what they call the decrease, I'm calling the police."
  • "April 2nd, 2010 9: 39 am ET yeah, an increase and decrease is NO better than drastic losses during Duh Duh Duh-byas reign of error"
  • "Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks has reduced antlerless permits by 51 percent from 2,882 to 1,400 during 2000-2004 and recently proposed 100 permits for 2006 – a 96 percent decrease from the 2,660 permits issued in 1995. any wonder hunters are getting totally miffed by the [apparent] lack of proper game management and wolves?"