Reduce Meaning
/ɹɪˈd͡ʒuːs/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
verbTo bring down the size, quantity, quality, value or intensity of something; to diminish, to lower.
verbTo lose weight.
Sentence Examples
We have to reduce the cost to a minimum.
We must reduce energy demand.
Using energy-saving bulbs will help to reduce your electricity bill.
CEFR Practice Quiz
To save money, the family decided to ____ their monthly spending on unnecessary items.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The government introduced measures to ____ carbon emissions by forty percent within a decade.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English reducen, from Old French reduire, from Latin redūcō (“reduce”); from re- (“back”) + dūcō (“lead”). See duke, and compare with redoubt.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Becoming more aware of the progress that scientists have made on behavioral fronts can reduce the risk that other natural scientists will resort to mystical agential accounts when they exceed the limits of their own disciplinary training."
— 2012 January 26, Stephen Ledoux, “Behaviorism at 100”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 10 Nov 2013, page 60:
"Most train operators have reduced services with emergency timetables, as they struggle to cope with a rapid increase in staff absences due to the Omicron variant of COVID."
— 2022 January 12, Paul Clifton, “Network News: Emergency timetables as absences surge due to COVID”, in RAIL, number 948, page 6:
"Drivers like the idea of increasing traffic flow and reducing congestion on the portion of I-80 between Davis and West Sacramento."
— 2024 May 17, Orko Manna, “Toll lane project on Interstate 80 between West Sacramento and Davis gets green light”, in KCRA, archived from the original on 22 May 2024:
"My father, the eldest son of an ancient but reduced family, left me with little."
— 1815 February 24, [Walter Scott], Guy Mannering; or, The Astrologer. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, […]; and Archibald Constable and Co., […], →OCLC:
"nothing so excellent but a man may falten upon something or other belonging to it whereby to reduce it ."
— 1671, John Tillotson, “Sermon II. The Folly of Scoffing at Religion. 2 Pet[er] III. 3.”, in The Works of the Most Reverend Dr. John Tillotson, Late Lord Archbishop of Canterbury: […], London: […] B. Aylmer, […]; [a]nd W. Rogers, […], published 1696, →OCLC:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
To save money, the family decided to ____ their monthly spending on unnecessary items.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The government introduced measures to ____ carbon emissions by forty percent within a decade.