reduce - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
reduce Word Meanings
- to make smaller in size, amount, or degree
- to lessen or diminish
- to bring to a simpler form
reduce Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
reduce Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/rɪˈdjuːs/
US
/rɪˈduːs/
reduce Word Etymology
re- = back, due = lead/bring; Latin → Old French → English. Imagine someone taking something large and 'leading it back' to a smaller size, like squeezing a sponge until it shrinks.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I reach for the dimmer and slowly turn it down, watching the room light melt from bright to soft. I keep nudging the knob, feeling the effort in my fingers as the glare reduces. The space shifts from loud to calm, and I sense how a smaller amount can feel clearer. In real life, I use that same motion to reduce noise in a plan or a chat, making things simpler and easier to handle.
Real Context
Reduce means to make something smaller in size, amount, or degree, and to lessen or diminish it; it can also mean to convert something into a simpler form. In everyday speech we reduce costs, reduce waste, or reduce pain by treatment, and in math or science we reduce a fraction or a problem to a simpler version. English often uses reduce with by/ to, as in reduce by half or reduce to a single sentence. Learners should note that reduce is a broader verb than 'decrease' because it implies active effort or policy, while 'decrease' can be a more passive change; 'reduce' also pairs with 'to' when a result is a simpler form.
Usage Reminders
- - Pair with by or to to show amount changed or the new state (reduce by half, reduce to a simpler form)
- - Use with costs, waste, emissions, or pain to indicate intentional lowering
- - In math/science, use to mean simplify or convert to a simpler form
- - Compare with decrease: reduce implies action or policy; decrease can be more passive
- - Common collocations: reduce costs, reduce emissions, reduce waste, reduce pollution
Common Misconceptions
- Reduce = decrease; but reduce often implies action or a policy, not just a change.
- You can reduce anything by any amount; some nouns collocate better with 'reduce' than others.
- Reduce can take 'to' (result) or 'by' (amount); mix-ups are common with math vs policy contexts.
- Don't use reduce to mean 'stop completely' unless the context actually implies ending it.
- Confuse reduce with 'reductive' or 'redundant'—they are different concepts.
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker (meta, keep short)
Learning Tips
- Use reduce with by to show how much is cut (e. g., by half).
- Use reduce with to to show the new state (e. g., reduce to a simple form).
- Notice the active, deliberate sense vs. the more neutral decrease.
- Practice everyday phrases: reduce costs, reduce waste, reduce emissions.
- Pair with nouns that naturally take amount or measure (costs, time, waste)
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the best definition of reduce?
A.To make something smaller in size, amount, degree, or number
B.To move something from one place to another
C.To describe something in great detail
D.To cause something to increase or grow
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses the word reduce correctly?
A.The city plans to reduce traffic by improving public transit.
B.He handed me a reduce after the meeting.
C.She wanted to reduce for the exam.
D.The plant will reduce taller next year.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar in meaning to reduce?
A.decrease
B.expand
C.preserve
D.multiply
Step 4: Opposite Words
Which word is the opposite of reduce?
A.increase
B.diminish
C.shrink
D.lower
Step 5: Mastery
Which prompt asks for a real-life context where the word would be used correctly when speaking aloud?
A.Can you describe a situation where someone raises their daily calorie intake?
B.Can you give an example of a real-life scenario where someone lowers their monthly energy use?
C.Can you think of a time you kept something the same instead of changing it?
D.Can you give an example of when someone built something larger to solve a problem?
Related Listening
🌱 Lite (Beginner)
🔥 Advanced
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