Cool MateDecrease vs Reduce
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Decrease
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Reduce
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most common: Reduce
| Decrease | Reduce | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dɪˈkriːs//🇺🇸 //dɪˈkriːs// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈdjuːs/","/rɪˈdjuːsɪz/","/rɪˈdjuːst/","/rɪˈdjuːsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈduːs/","/rɪˈduːsɪz/","/rɪˈduːst/","/rɪˈduːsɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To make something smaller or lower. | Make something smaller in amount, size, or degree. |
| Example | The government plans to decrease taxes next year. | The company plans to reduce its carbon footprint by using more sustainable materials. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | decrease in size, decrease in temperature, significantly decrease, gradually decrease, decrease the risk | considerably, dramatically, drastically, aim to, attempt to, seek to, by, in, from, an attempt to reduce something, an effort to reduce something, measures to reduce something |
| Antonyms | increase, rise, augment | increase, expand, enlarge |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'decrease' with 'increase'., Using 'decrease' without an object, e.g. 'decrease' must have something to decrease., Incorrectly conjugating the verb in different tenses. | Confused with 'deduce' which means to conclude or infer., Using 'reduce' without an object (e.g. 'reduce it' instead of directly stating what to reduce)., Mistaking 'reduce' for 'reduction' in sentences. |
| Usage notes | Use 'decrease' in formal and neutral contexts to describe reductions, such as in appetite or temperature. | Use 'reduce' when talking about making something smaller or less in quantity. It can be used formally in reports or informally in everyday conversation. Avoid using it in contexts where the increase is intended. |
Frequently asked questions: Decrease vs Reduce
What's the difference between Decrease and Reduce?
Decrease: To make something smaller or lower. Reduce: Make something smaller in amount, size, or degree.
Which is more common: Decrease and Reduce?
Reduce is the most common in everyday English.
Are Decrease and Reduce the same CEFR level?
Decrease: B2, Reduce: A2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Decrease and Reduce interchangeably?
Not always. Decrease and Reduce are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.