Antonyms for reduce


Grammar : Verb
Spell : ri-doos, -dyoos
Phonetic Transcription : rɪˈdus, -ˈdyus


Definition of reduce

Origin :
  • late 14c., "bring back," from Old French reducer (14c.), from Latin reducere "lead back, bring back," figuratively "restore, replace," from re- "back" (see re-) + ducere "bring, lead" (see duke (n.)). Meaning "bring to an inferior condition" is 1570s; that of "bring to a lower rank" is 1640s (military reduce to ranks is from 1802); that of "subdue by force of arms" is 1610s. Sense of "to lower, diminish, lessen" is from 1787. Related: Reduced; reducing.
  • verb make less; decrease
  • verb defeat
  • verb humble, humiliate
Example sentences :
  • My plan was to reduce each man's ration of flower from 7lbs.
  • Extract from : « Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia » by Thomas Mitchell
  • "While you're reducing the size of it you might also reduce the pain in it," said Dick.
  • Extract from : « The Rock of Chickamauga » by Joseph A. Altsheler
  • The action of the soul is to reduce fear to simple prudence.
  • Extract from : « Initiation into Philosophy » by Emile Faguet
  • Then add three tablespoonsful of vinegar and reduce the sauce.
  • Extract from : « The Cook's Decameron: A Study in Taste: » by Mrs. W. G. Waters
  • Skim the stock and reduce it to a glaze to cover the sweetbreads.
  • Extract from : « The Cook's Decameron: A Study in Taste: » by Mrs. W. G. Waters
  • Let this simmer for half an hour, so as to reduce it to a thick sauce.
  • Extract from : « The Cook's Decameron: A Study in Taste: » by Mrs. W. G. Waters
  • When they are cooked pour off the sauce, skim off the grease and reduce it.
  • Extract from : « The Cook's Decameron: A Study in Taste: » by Mrs. W. G. Waters
  • And the losses will almost hourly reduce Gilmore's small force.
  • Extract from : « Diary from November 12, 1862, to October 18, 1863 » by Adam Gurowski
  • Worse than that, he could not reduce it to the normal, try as he might.
  • Extract from : « A Breath of Prairie and other stories » by Will Lillibridge
  • It was necessary to reduce the rent in some way in order to permit the villains to live.
  • Extract from : « The Enclosures in England » by Harriett Bradley

Synonyms for reduce

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019