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A2 verb #380 most common 13 min read

reduce

Top 380

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips reduce in 30 Seconds

Explanation reduce in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'reduce' is a word you might not use every day, but it is very helpful for shopping and simple instructions. It means to make something smaller or less. Think about a shop that has a sale. They 'reduce' the price of the clothes. This means the clothes are now cheaper. You can also use it for food. If you are making a soup and it is too much, you can 'reduce' the amount of water. It is a word that helps you talk about changes in how much of something there is. For example, 'Please reduce the music' means 'Please make the music quieter.' It is a very useful word for being polite when you want someone to change something. You can also think about 'reduce' when you talk about your health. A doctor might say, 'Reduce the sugar in your tea.' This means put less sugar in your tea. It is a simple way to talk about doing less of something or having less of something. Even at this early level, knowing 'reduce' helps you understand signs in shops like 'Reduced Prices' or 'Price Reduced.' It is one of the first words you learn for talking about quantities and how they can change. You can use it with many common words like price, noise, and food. Just remember that 'reduce' is an action you do to something else. You reduce the price, you reduce the noise, and you reduce the waste.

At the A2 level, you can start using 'reduce' in more varied sentences. It is a common verb that means to make something less in size, amount, or degree. You will often see it in the context of the environment, like the phrase 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.' This means we should try to make less trash. You can also use it to talk about your daily habits. For example, 'I want to reduce the time I spend on my phone.' This shows you are making a choice to do something less. In terms of grammar, you should notice that 'reduce' usually takes an object. You reduce *something*. You can also use it with 'by' to show how much something changed. 'The shop reduced the price by five dollars.' This is a very clear way to give information. You might also hear it in the kitchen. If you are cooking a sauce, you might 'reduce' it to make it thicker. This is a bit more specific, but it still means making the amount of liquid less. 'Reduce' is a more formal word than 'cut' or 'make less,' so using it makes your English sound a bit more advanced. It is very common in news stories about the economy or health. For example, 'The government wants to reduce pollution.' This is a sentence you can easily understand and use at this level. It helps you talk about goals and plans for the future.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'reduce' in a wide range of professional and personal contexts. You understand that 'reduce' is not just about physical size, but also about abstract concepts like risk, stress, and complexity. For instance, you might say, 'We need to reduce the complexity of this project to meet the deadline.' This shows you can apply the word to work situations. You also start to use the passive voice with 'reduce.' Instead of saying 'The company reduced the costs,' you might say 'The costs were reduced by 10%.' This is a more formal and objective way of speaking. You should also be aware of common collocations like 'reduce the risk,' 'reduce the impact,' and 'reduce the cost.' These pairings are very frequent in English. At this level, you can also use 'reduce' to describe a process of simplification. 'The whole problem can be reduced to a lack of communication.' This shows a deeper understanding of the word's meaning. You are also likely to encounter 'reduce' in academic or technical texts. For example, 'The study aims to find ways to reduce energy consumption in urban areas.' You can also use it to talk about health in a more sophisticated way, such as 'Reducing your intake of saturated fats can significantly lower your cholesterol.' Overall, at B1, 'reduce' becomes a key part of your vocabulary for discussing problems, solutions, and trends in a clear and professional manner.

At the B2 level, you use 'reduce' with precision and nuance. You understand the subtle differences between 'reduce' and its synonyms like 'diminish,' 'curtail,' or 'alleviate.' For example, you know that while 'reduce' is general, 'alleviate' is specifically used for making a bad situation or feeling better. You might say, 'The new policy is intended to alleviate poverty by reducing unemployment.' This shows you can use both words in the same sentence to express complex ideas. You are also familiar with the use of 'reduce' in more idiomatic or specialized ways. For instance, in chemistry, you know about 'reduction' as the opposite of oxidation. In mathematics, you 'reduce' an equation to its simplest form. You can also use 'reduce' to describe a person's state, such as 'He was reduced to tears by the news.' This is a more emotional and dramatic use of the word. Your grammar is also more advanced; you can use 'reduce' in various tenses and structures without hesitation. You might use it in a conditional sentence: 'If we were to reduce our overheads, we could invest more in research and development.' You also recognize the word in its noun form, 'reduction,' and can use it effectively: 'There has been a significant reduction in the number of accidents this year.' At this level, 'reduce' is a tool for detailed analysis and sophisticated expression in both written and spoken English.

At the C1 level, 'reduce' is a word you use with complete mastery, often in highly formal or academic contexts. You are aware of its etymological roots—from the Latin 'reducere,' meaning 'to lead back'—and how this history informs its various meanings today. You can use 'reduce' to describe complex philosophical or scientific processes. For example, you might discuss 'reductionism' in science, which is the practice of analyzing complex things into their simplest parts. You can also use 'reduce' to describe subtle shifts in social or political dynamics. 'The candidate's argument was reduced to a series of soundbites by the media.' This shows an understanding of how 'reduce' can imply a loss of depth or quality. In professional writing, you use 'reduce' to provide precise data and analysis. 'The implementation of the new algorithm reduced latency by an average of 150 milliseconds, thereby enhancing the user experience.' You are also comfortable with the word's use in legal or contractual language, where 'reducing an agreement to writing' means to create a formal, written version of a verbal deal. Your vocabulary is rich enough that you only use 'reduce' when it is the most accurate word, choosing 'mitigate,' 'extenuate,' or 'truncate' when those words provide a more specific meaning. At C1, 'reduce' is not just a verb; it is a concept you can manipulate to express fine distinctions in logic, intensity, and scale.

At the C2 level, your use of 'reduce' is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker. You use the word with an instinctive grasp of its connotations and its place within the broader landscape of English vocabulary. You can use it in highly abstract or metaphorical ways that reflect a deep engagement with the language. For example, you might say, 'The artist's work reduces the human form to its most elemental geometric shapes,' which describes a sophisticated aesthetic process. You are also adept at using 'reduce' in the context of critical theory or high-level debate. 'To reduce the entire history of the conflict to a mere dispute over land is to ignore the profound cultural and religious factors at play.' Here, 'reduce' is used to criticize an oversimplification. You also understand the word's role in various technical jargons, from culinary arts to computer science, and can switch between these registers effortlessly. In your own writing, you might use 'reduce' to create a specific rhetorical effect, perhaps using it in a series of parallel structures to emphasize a point. You also have a command of the word's most formal and archaic uses, though you use them sparingly for effect. Your understanding of 'reduce' is part of a larger, nuanced vocabulary that allows you to express the most complex ideas with clarity, elegance, and precision. You see 'reduce' not just as a verb for 'making less,' but as a fundamental operation of thought, language, and the physical world.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

reduce in 30 Seconds

Reduce is a verb that means to make something smaller, less, or simpler. It is used for prices, sizes, amounts, and abstract things like stress.
It is a formal word often found in business, health, and environmental contexts. It usually requires a direct object, meaning you reduce *something*.
Common phrases include 'reduce the risk,' 'reduce costs,' and 'reduce waste.' It is also part of the famous slogan 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.'
Grammatically, it is a regular verb. Be careful with prepositions: 'reduce by' shows the amount of change, while 'reduce to' shows the final result.

The verb reduce is a versatile and essential word in the English language, primarily used to describe the act of making something smaller in size, amount, degree, or importance. At its core, it signifies a transition from a greater state to a lesser one. Whether you are talking about physical objects, abstract concepts, or mathematical values, 'reduce' is the go-to term for expressing a decrease that is often intentional or the result of a specific process. In everyday life, you will encounter this word in a variety of contexts, ranging from the kitchen to the corporate boardroom. For instance, in cooking, to reduce a liquid means to boil it down so that it becomes thicker and more concentrated. In business, a company might seek to reduce its expenses to increase profitability. In environmental discussions, the slogan 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle' places 'reduce' at the forefront, urging individuals to limit the amount of waste they produce in the first place.

Physical Diminishment: This refers to making an object smaller or lowering a physical quantity like heat or speed. For example, 'Please reduce the volume of the music; it is far too loud for this time of night.'

Abstract Limitation: This involves lowering the intensity or frequency of something that cannot be touched, such as stress, risk, or complexity. 'The new security measures are designed to reduce the risk of unauthorized access to the building.'

The government has promised to reduce taxes for middle-income families by the end of the fiscal year.

People use 'reduce' when they want to sound precise about the act of cutting down. While 'cut' is often used in informal speech ('cut the price'), 'reduce' is preferred in formal writing, academic papers, and professional reports. It implies a controlled or measured decrease. For example, a doctor might tell a patient to 'reduce their intake of salt' rather than just saying 'eat less salt.' This nuance makes 'reduce' a powerful tool for clear communication. Furthermore, the word can be used in a passive sense, such as 'The workforce was reduced by ten percent,' which often sounds more professional or detached than 'The company fired ten percent of the workers.' Understanding when to use 'reduce' versus its synonyms like 'lessen' or 'diminish' is key to mastering English nuance. 'Lessen' often refers to the intensity of a feeling (lessen the pain), while 'diminish' often suggests a loss of prestige or value over time. 'Reduce,' however, remains the most flexible and widely applicable term for any scenario involving a decrease in quantity or scale.

By walking to work, you can significantly reduce your carbon footprint.

Numerical Reduction: In mathematics, reducing a fraction means to simplify it to its lowest terms. For example, reducing 4/8 to 1/2 makes the number easier to work with and understand.

We need to reduce the amount of paper we use in the office to be more eco-friendly.

The driver had to reduce speed as he approached the sharp curve in the road.

Eating more vegetables can help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Using the word reduce correctly involves understanding its grammatical patterns and the typical objects it takes. Most commonly, 'reduce' is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object—the thing that is being made smaller. For example, in the sentence 'The company reduced its prices,' 'its prices' is the direct object. You can reduce almost anything that has a measurable quantity or intensity. Common objects include costs, risks, waste, speed, size, and amount. One of the most frequent structures is 'reduce something by [amount]' or 'reduce something to [level].' For instance, 'They reduced the price by $10' means the price is now $10 lower than before. Conversely, 'They reduced the price to $10' means the final price is now exactly $10. This distinction is crucial for clear communication, especially in financial or technical contexts.

Transitive Usage: Subject + reduce + Object. 'The teacher asked the students to reduce the noise level in the classroom so everyone could concentrate on the exam.'

Passive Voice: Object + was/were reduced. 'The budget for the marketing campaign was reduced significantly due to the economic downturn.'

To reduce the swelling, you should apply an ice pack to your ankle for twenty minutes.

Another common pattern is using 'reduce' with the preposition 'to' to describe a state of being forced into a lower or worse condition. For example, 'The once-proud city was reduced to rubble after the earthquake.' This usage is more dramatic and often describes destruction or extreme simplification. In a different sense, 'reduce' can be used with 'to' to mean simplifying a complex idea: 'The entire argument can be reduced to a single question of ethics.' This shows how 'reduce' moves from physical quantities to intellectual concepts. When using 'reduce' in the present continuous, it often describes an ongoing effort or trend: 'We are reducing our reliance on fossil fuels by investing in solar energy.' This highlights a process that is currently happening.

The chef is reducing the balsamic vinegar to create a thick glaze for the salad.

Infinitive of Purpose: Using 'to reduce' to explain why an action is taken. 'I started cycling to work to reduce my monthly transportation costs.'

The new software will reduce the time spent on data entry by at least fifty percent.

If we reduce our consumption of plastic, we can help protect the oceans.

The medicine helped reduce the patient's fever within a few hours.

You will hear the word reduce in almost every professional and public sphere. In the news, it is a staple of economic reporting. News anchors often discuss how the central bank might 'reduce interest rates' to stimulate the economy or how a major corporation plans to 'reduce its workforce' to cut costs. In these scenarios, 'reduce' provides a neutral, objective tone that is suitable for serious reporting. In the realm of environmental science and activism, 'reduce' is a keyword. You will hear it in documentaries about climate change, where experts talk about the urgent need to 'reduce carbon emissions' or 'reduce plastic waste' to save the planet. This context often carries a sense of moral or global urgency.

In the Kitchen: On cooking shows like 'MasterChef,' you will frequently hear chefs tell contestants to 'reduce the sauce.' This means simmering the liquid until it evaporates slightly, intensifying the flavor and thickening the consistency.

In Healthcare: Doctors and health influencers use 'reduce' when giving advice. You might hear, 'Reducing your sugar intake can lead to better energy levels throughout the day' or 'Exercise is a great way to reduce stress.'

The airline announced it would reduce the number of flights to Europe during the winter season.

In educational settings, teachers use 'reduce' when explaining concepts in math or science. A math teacher might say, 'Always remember to reduce your answer to the simplest form.' In a chemistry lab, a teacher might discuss 'reducing agents' in a chemical reaction. Furthermore, in the world of technology and software, you will hear about 'reducing latency' or 'reducing the file size' to make applications run faster and more efficiently. This word is truly ubiquitous because the concept of making things smaller or more efficient is central to human progress and problem-solving. Whether it's a politician promising to 'reduce crime' or a friend suggesting you 'reduce the amount of time you spend on social media,' the word is used to suggest a positive change through the act of lessening.

To reduce glare on your computer screen, try moving your desk away from the window.

In Sports: Commentators might say a team needs to 'reduce their errors' if they want to win the game, referring to mistakes like turnovers or fouls.

The city is trying to reduce traffic congestion by building more bike lanes.

The goal of the new policy is to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor.

We must reduce our energy consumption if we want to lower our electricity bill.

While reduce is a common word, learners often make specific mistakes regarding its usage, prepositions, and synonyms. One of the most frequent errors is confusing 'reduce' with 'decrease.' While they are often interchangeable, 'reduce' is almost always a transitive verb (it needs an object), whereas 'decrease' can be both transitive and intransitive. For example, you can say 'The temperature decreased' (intransitive), but you cannot say 'The temperature reduced' in the same way. You would have to say 'The temperature was reduced' or 'The cooling system reduced the temperature.' Another common mistake involves the prepositions 'by' and 'to.' As mentioned earlier, 'reduce by' refers to the amount of the cut, while 'reduce to' refers to the final result. Saying 'We reduced the price by $50' when you meant 'We reduced the price to $50' could lead to a very different financial outcome!

Incorrect Intransitive Use: Mistake: 'The population reduced last year.' Correct: 'The population decreased last year' or 'The population was reduced by emigration.'

Confusion with 'Less': Mistake: 'I want to reduce my salt.' Correct: 'I want to reduce my salt intake' or 'I want to use less salt.' 'Reduce' usually sounds better when followed by a noun that represents a quantity or a specific behavior.

Don't say: 'The company reduced from 100 to 80 employees.' Say: 'The company reduced its staff from 100 to 80.'

Another area of confusion is the difference between 'reduce' and 'lower.' While very similar, 'lower' is often used for physical height or position (lower the blinds, lower the flag), whereas 'reduce' is used for quantities and intensity. You can 'lower' your voice, but you 'reduce' the volume. Additionally, learners sometimes use 'reduce' when they mean 'shorten.' You reduce the length of a document, but you shorten a skirt or a meeting. Using the wrong word can make your English sound slightly unnatural. Finally, be careful with the passive voice. While 'The prices were reduced' is correct, learners sometimes forget the auxiliary verb 'be' and say 'The prices reduced,' which is grammatically incorrect in most standard dialects of English.

Correct: 'The government aims to reduce unemployment.' Incorrect: 'The government aims to reduce the unemployed people.'

Overusing 'Reduce': Sometimes 'cut' or 'drop' is more natural in casual conversation. 'I need to reduce my coffee' sounds a bit stiff compared to 'I need to cut down on coffee.'

Mistake: 'The medicine reduced the pain to go away.' Correct: 'The medicine reduced the pain until it went away.'

Mistake: 'We need to reduce the speed of the car.' (Correct, but 'slow down' is more common while driving).

Mistake: 'The fraction was reduced into 1/2.' Correct: 'The fraction was reduced to 1/2.'

To truly master the word reduce, it is helpful to compare it with its synonyms and understand the specific contexts where each is most appropriate. While 'reduce' is a general-purpose word, others like 'decrease,' 'lessen,' 'diminish,' and 'curtail' offer more specific shades of meaning. 'Decrease' is perhaps the closest synonym, but as noted, it can be used without an object. 'Lessen' is often used for things that are felt or experienced, like pain, anxiety, or the impact of a blow. You might 'lessen the blow' of bad news, but you 'reduce the cost' of a project. 'Diminish' often implies a gradual loss of quality, value, or power over time. For example, 'His influence in the company began to diminish after he lost the big contract.' 'Curtail' is a more formal word that means to cut something short or to restrict it, often by force or law. A government might 'curtail civil liberties' during an emergency.

Reduce vs. Decrease: 'Reduce' is usually something you do to something else (transitive). 'Decrease' can be something that happens on its own (intransitive). 'I reduced the heat' vs. 'The temperature decreased.'

Reduce vs. Curtail: 'Curtail' implies stopping something before it is finished or putting a hard limit on it. 'The party was curtailed by the rain.' 'Reduce' is more about the amount or size.

While we can reduce the number of cars on the road, we may never completely eliminate traffic.

Other alternatives include 'abate,' which is very formal and usually refers to something negative becoming less intense, like a storm or a nuisance. 'Dwindle' is used when something becomes smaller and smaller until almost nothing is left, like 'dwindling resources' or 'dwindling hope.' 'Contract' is used when something physically shrinks in size, like a muscle or a piece of metal when it cools. In the context of writing, you might 'abridge' a book or 'condense' a text, which are specific types of reduction focused on removing unnecessary parts while keeping the main ideas. Choosing the right word depends on whether you want to emphasize the process, the result, the speed of the change, or the nature of the thing being changed. 'Reduce' remains the most versatile because it can cover almost all these scenarios, but using the alternatives can make your writing more precise and evocative.

The new law aims to curtail the power of large monopolies.

Reduce vs. Abridge: You 'reduce' the size of a file, but you 'abridge' a long novel to make a shorter version for students.

The noise from the construction site finally began to abate in the late afternoon.

We need to condense this report into a two-page summary for the board meeting.

As the sun set, the light began to diminish, casting long shadows across the valley.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Child friendly

Slang

Fun Fact

In the 15th century, 'reduce' was often used to mean 'to translate' a book from one language to another, as if you were 'leading it back' into a new form.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /rɪˈdjuːs/

US /rɪˈduːs/

The stress is on the second syllable: re-DUCE.

Rhymes With

produce induce seduce deduce juice loose moose goose truce

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'c' as a 'k' sound (it should be an 's' sound).
Stressing the first syllable (RE-duce) instead of the second.
Confusing the 'u' sound with a short 'u' as in 'duck'.
Forgetting the final 's' sound in the pronunciation.
Mixing up the pronunciation with 'refuse'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

The word is common in news and signs, making it easy to recognize.

Writing 3/5

Requires understanding of transitive structures and prepositions like 'by' and 'to'.

Speaking 2/5

The pronunciation is straightforward, and it's a useful word for requests.

Listening 2/5

Clearly pronounced and often stressed in sentences.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

small less cut make change

Learn Next

decrease diminish mitigate alleviate curtail

Advanced

reductionism reductive oxidation-reduction constituent mitigating

Grammar to Know

Transitive Verbs

You must reduce *the heat* (object).

Passive Voice

The budget *was reduced* by the manager.

Prepositions of Change

Reduced *from* 10 *to* 5; reduced *by* 5.

Gerunds as Subjects

*Reducing* waste is important for the planet.

Infinitives of Purpose

I exercise *to reduce* stress.

Examples by Level

Please reduce the music.

Por favor, baja la música.

Imperative form used for a polite request.

The shop will reduce the price.

La tienda reducirá el precio.

Future tense with 'will'.

I want to reduce my sugar.

Quiero reducir mi azúcar.

Infinitive after the verb 'want'.

He reduced the heat on the stove.

Él bajó el fuego de la estufa.

Past simple tense of 'reduce'.

Can you reduce the noise?

¿Puedes reducir el ruido?

Question form with the modal 'can'.

We need to reduce waste.

Necesitamos reducir los residuos.

Infinitive after the verb 'need'.

She reduced the size of the photo.

Ella redujo el tamaño de la foto.

Past simple with a direct object.

They reduce prices every Monday.

Ellos reducen los precios cada lunes.

Present simple for a regular habit.

You should reduce the amount of salt you eat.

Deberías reducir la cantidad de sal que comes.

Modal 'should' for giving advice.

The company is trying to reduce its costs.

La empresa está intentando reducir sus costes.

Present continuous for an ongoing action.

We reduced the price by ten percent.

Redujimos el precio en un diez por ciento.

Using 'by' to show the amount of change.

To reduce pollution, we should use bikes.

Para reducir la contaminación, deberíamos usar bicicletas.

Infinitive of purpose at the start of the sentence.

The driver reduced his speed near the school.

El conductor redujo su velocidad cerca de la escuela.

Past simple with a possessive adjective.

I am reducing the time I spend on social media.

Estoy reduciendo el tiempo que paso en las redes sociales.

Present continuous for a personal goal.

The medicine will help reduce your fever.

La medicina ayudará a reducir tu fiebre.

Future tense with 'will' + 'help' + infinitive.

They reduced the meeting to only thirty minutes.

Redujeron la reunión a solo treinta minutos.

Using 'to' to show the final result.

The new law aims to reduce plastic waste in the ocean.

La nueva ley pretende reducir los residuos plásticos en el océano.

Verb 'aim' followed by 'to' + infinitive.

The budget was reduced due to the economic crisis.

El presupuesto se redujo debido a la crisis económica.

Passive voice: 'was reduced'.

Walking every day can help reduce the risk of heart disease.

Caminar todos los días puede ayudar a reducir el riesgo de enfermedades cardíacas.

Gerund 'Walking' as the subject.

We need to reduce the complexity of the instructions.

Necesitamos reducir la complejidad de las instrucciones.

Noun 'complexity' as the object.

The chef reduced the sauce until it was thick and glossy.

El chef redujo la salsa hasta que estuvo espesa y brillante.

Culinary use of 'reduce'.

If we reduce our energy use, we will save money.

Si reducimos nuestro uso de energía, ahorraremos dinero.

First conditional sentence.

The workforce was reduced by 15% last year.

La plantilla se redujo en un 15% el año pasado.

Passive voice with a percentage.

He is trying to reduce the stress in his life.

Él está intentando reducir el estrés en su vida.

Abstract object 'stress'.

The government is under pressure to reduce the national debt.

El gobierno está bajo presión para reducir la deuda nacional.

Prepositional phrase 'under pressure' followed by infinitive.

The argument can be reduced to a simple question of fairness.

El argumento puede reducirse a una simple cuestión de justicia.

Passive modal 'can be reduced to'.

New technology has significantly reduced the time needed for production.

La nueva tecnología ha reducido significativamente el tiempo necesario para la producción.

Present perfect with an adverb 'significantly'.

The city was reduced to rubble after the heavy bombing.

La ciudad quedó reducida a escombros tras el intenso bombardeo.

Idiomatic use of 'reduced to rubble'.

We must find ways to reduce our reliance on imported oil.

Debemos encontrar formas de reducir nuestra dependencia del petróleo importado.

Noun 'reliance' as the object.

The medication helped reduce the inflammation in his joints.

La medicación ayudó a reducir la inflamación de sus articulaciones.

Medical context with 'inflammation'.

The company's market share has reduced over the last decade.

La cuota de mercado de la empresa se ha reducido durante la última década.

Intransitive-like use in business (less common but possible).

Reducing the number of meetings would improve productivity.

Reducir el número de reuniones mejoraría la productividad.

Gerund 'Reducing' as the subject of a second conditional.

The complex chemical reaction was reduced to its constituent elements.

La compleja reacción química se redujo a sus elementos constitutivos.

Scientific context using 'constituent elements'.

The author's latest novel has been reduced to a mere 200 pages for the paperback edition.

La última novela del autor ha sido reducida a apenas 200 páginas para la edición de bolsillo.

Present perfect passive with 'mere'.

The judge reduced the sentence after considering the mitigating circumstances.

El juez redujo la sentencia tras considerar las circunstancias atenuantes.

Legal context with 'mitigating circumstances'.

To reduce the problem to a binary choice is a gross oversimplification.

Reducir el problema a una elección binaria es una simplificación excesiva.

Abstract philosophical use.

The company's environmental impact must be reduced through rigorous sustainability audits.

El impacto ambiental de la empresa debe reducirse mediante auditorías de sostenibilidad rigurosas.

Passive voice with 'must be' and 'through'.

The once-mighty empire was reduced to a small group of warring states.

El otrora poderoso imperio quedó reducido a un pequeño grupo de estados en guerra.

Historical context with 'once-mighty'.

The new algorithm aims to reduce computational overhead without sacrificing accuracy.

El nuevo algoritmo pretende reducir los gastos computacionales sin sacrificar la precisión.

Technical context with 'computational overhead'.

The patient's condition was reduced to a state of stable but critical health.

El estado del paciente se redujo a una condición de salud estable pero crítica.

Medical context with nuanced adjectives.

The philosopher argued that all human emotions could be reduced to basic biological impulses.

El filósofo argumentó que todas las emociones humanas podrían reducirse a impulsos biológicos básicos.

Reductionism in philosophy.

The agreement was finally reduced to writing after months of verbal negotiations.

El acuerdo se puso finalmente por escrito tras meses de negociaciones verbales.

Legal idiom: 'reduced to writing'.

The director's vision was sadly reduced by the studio's budgetary constraints.

La visión del director se vio tristemente reducida por las limitaciones presupuestarias del estudio.

Passive voice with abstract subject 'vision'.

In the final analysis, the entire socio-political crisis can be reduced to a struggle for resources.

En última instancia, toda la crisis sociopolítica puede reducirse a una lucha por los recursos.

Introductory phrase 'In the final analysis'.

The chef's signature dish features a sauce reduced to the point of intense, syrupy concentration.

El plato estrella del chef presenta una salsa reducida hasta el punto de una concentración intensa y almibarada.

Advanced culinary description.

The poem's power lies in how it reduces a lifetime of grief to a few stark, haunting images.

El poder del poema reside en cómo reduce toda una vida de dolor a unas pocas imágenes crudas e inquietantes.

Literary analysis context.

The company's strategy is to reduce market volatility through diversified investment portfolios.

La estrategia de la empresa es reducir la volatilidad del mercado mediante carteras de inversión diversificadas.

High-level finance terminology.

He was reduced to a shadow of his former self after the long illness.

Quedó reducido a una sombra de lo que fue tras la larga enfermedad.

Idiomatic expression for physical/mental decline.

Synonyms

decrease lower cut diminish lessen shrink

Antonyms

increase expand raise

Common Collocations

reduce the risk

reduce costs

reduce waste

reduce stress

reduce speed

reduce pollution

reduce unemployment

reduce a fraction

reduce the impact

reduce the amount

Common Phrases

reduce to tears

— To make someone cry because of sadness or frustration.

The harsh criticism reduced her to tears.

reduce to rubble

— To completely destroy a building or city.

The old factory was reduced to rubble by the fire.

reduce to silence

— To make someone stop talking, often by a strong argument.

His brilliant reply reduced the room to silence.

reduce to writing

— To put a verbal agreement into a formal document.

We need to reduce this agreement to writing immediately.

reduce to a minimum

— To make something as small as possible.

We must reduce the noise to a minimum during the exam.

reduce by half

— To make something 50% smaller or less.

The recipe says to reduce the liquid by half.

reduce the burden

— To make a difficult task or responsibility easier.

The new software will reduce the burden on our staff.

reduce the gap

— To make the difference between two things smaller.

The goal is to reduce the gap between rich and poor.

reduce to essentials

— To simplify something by keeping only the most important parts.

He reduced the complex story to its essentials.

reduce the pressure

— To lower the amount of force or stress in a situation.

Opening the valve will reduce the pressure in the pipe.

Often Confused With

reduce vs decrease

Decrease can be intransitive ('Prices decreased'), but reduce usually needs an object ('They reduced prices').

reduce vs lower

Lower is often used for physical height, while reduce is for quantity or intensity.

reduce vs subtract

Subtract is a specific math operation; reduce is a general decrease in total.

Idioms & Expressions

"reduce someone to a shadow of their former self"

— To make someone much weaker, thinner, or less confident than they used to be.

The long illness had reduced him to a shadow of his former self.

Literary/Formal

"reduce to the lowest common denominator"

— To simplify something so much that it appeals to the least intelligent or most basic level of people.

The TV show was reduced to the lowest common denominator to get more viewers.

Critical/Formal

"reduce to a pulp"

— To beat or crush something until it is soft and shapeless; can be literal or metaphorical.

The boxer reduced his opponent to a pulp in the final round.

Informal/Graphic

"reduce to a science"

— To make a process so efficient and predictable that it seems like a scientific method.

She has reduced the art of packing a suitcase to a science.

Neutral

"reduce to ashes"

— To completely destroy something by fire.

The entire library was reduced to ashes in the blaze.

Dramatic

"reduce to a shambles"

— To make something completely disorganized or messy.

The lack of planning reduced the event to a shambles.

Informal/British

"reduce to a crawl"

— To slow down movement until it is very slow, like traffic.

The snow reduced traffic to a crawl on the highway.

Neutral

"reduce to zero"

— To completely eliminate something.

The goal is to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2050.

Technical/Formal

"reduce to a footnote"

— To make something seem unimportant in the context of a larger story or history.

His achievements were reduced to a footnote in the history books.

Academic/Literary

"reduce to a state of nature"

— To return something to its original, wild, or unorganized condition.

Without maintenance, the garden was reduced to a state of nature.

Formal/Philosophical

Easily Confused

reduce vs decrease

Both mean to make less.

Reduce is usually transitive (needs an object). Decrease can be intransitive (happens on its own).

The company reduced prices (transitive). Prices decreased (intransitive).

reduce vs lessen

Both mean to make less.

Lessen is often used for abstract feelings or impacts (lessen the pain). Reduce is for measurable quantities.

The medicine lessened the pain. The shop reduced the price.

reduce vs diminish

Both mean to make less.

Diminish often implies a loss of quality or value over time. Reduce is a more direct action.

His fame diminished over the years. We reduced the file size.

reduce vs curtail

Both mean to make less.

Curtail means to cut something short or restrict it, often by force. Reduce is more general.

The party was curtailed by rain. We reduced the guest list.

reduce vs abridge

Both mean to make shorter.

Abridge is specifically for books or texts. Reduce is for any quantity or size.

The book was abridged for children. The sauce was reduced on the stove.

Sentence Patterns

Please reduce the [noun].

Please reduce the noise.

You should reduce your [noun].

You should reduce your salt intake.

The [noun] was reduced by [percentage].

The budget was reduced by 20%.

To reduce [noun], we must [verb].

To reduce pollution, we must use less plastic.

The problem can be reduced to [noun].

The problem can be reduced to a lack of funding.

He was reduced to [noun/state].

He was reduced to a state of total exhaustion.

If we reduce [noun], then [result].

If we reduce costs, we will be more profitable.

I want to reduce [noun].

I want to reduce the time I spend on my phone.

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Very common in both spoken and written English, especially in news and professional contexts.

Common Mistakes

The temperature reduced. → The temperature decreased.
Reduce is usually transitive and needs an object. Decrease can happen on its own.
We reduced the price to $10. (When you meant it is $10 cheaper) → We reduced the price by $10.
'By' shows the amount of the cut; 'to' shows the final price.
I need to reduce my coffee. → I need to reduce my coffee intake.
You reduce the *amount* or *intake* of something, not the physical object itself in this context.
The book was reduced for children. → The book was abridged for children.
'Abridge' is the specific word for shortening a text while keeping the meaning.
He reduced the car. → He reduced the speed of the car.
You must specify what quality of the car is being made less.

Tips

Use an Object

Always remember that 'reduce' usually needs an object. You don't just reduce; you reduce *something*, like costs or waste.

Formal Alternative

Use 'reduce' instead of 'make smaller' in your essays to sound more academic and precise.

By vs To

Double-check if you mean the amount of change (by) or the final result (to). This is very important in business!

Stress the End

Put the emphasis on the second syllable: re-DUCE. This helps people understand you clearly.

Common Pairs

Learn 'reduce the risk' as a single block of words. It is one of the most common ways to use the verb.

Environmental Use

Use 'reduce' when talking about green living. It shows you know the standard terminology for sustainability.

Sauce Secret

In a kitchen, 'reduce' is a positive thing! It means you are making the food taste better by concentrating the flavors.

Cost Cutting

In business meetings, 'reducing expenses' is a very common topic. Using this word makes you sound professional.

Simplifying

Remember that 'reduce' in math means 'simplify.' It makes big numbers easier to handle.

Rubble and Tears

Learn the idioms 'reduced to rubble' and 'reduced to tears' for more expressive and dramatic English.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'RE-DUCE' as 'RE-moving' something to make it 'DE-crease.' The 'RE' reminds you of taking away, and the 'DUCE' sounds like 'DE' from decrease.

Visual Association

Imagine a balloon slowly losing air. As the air leaves, the balloon 'reduces' in size. Or imagine a chef boiling a large pot of water until only a small amount of thick sauce is left.

Word Web

less smaller cut lower simplify decrease limit shrink

Challenge

Try to use 'reduce' three times today: once when talking about food, once when talking about money, and once when talking about your time.

Word Origin

The word 'reduce' comes from the Latin verb 'reducere,' which is formed by combining the prefix 're-' (meaning 'back') and 'ducere' (meaning 'to lead'). Therefore, the original literal meaning was 'to lead back' or 'to bring back.'

Original meaning: In Middle English, it originally meant to bring someone back to a former state or to a right way of thinking. Over time, it evolved to mean bringing something down to a smaller size or simpler form.

It belongs to the Romance-derived part of English vocabulary, entering through Old French 'reduire' in the late 14th century.

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'reduce' in a business context regarding people. 'Reducing staff' is a polite way to say people are losing their jobs, which can be a very sensitive topic.

In the UK and US, 'reduced' stickers in supermarkets are a common sight, indicating items that are near their expiration date and sold at a lower price.

The environmental slogan: 'Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.' The mathematical term: 'Reduced to the lowest terms.' The philosophical concept: 'Reductionism.'

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Shopping

reduced price
price reduced by
reduced to clear
reduce the cost

Environment

reduce waste
reduce pollution
reduce carbon footprint
reduce plastic use

Health

reduce stress
reduce sugar intake
reduce the risk
reduce inflammation

Cooking

reduce the sauce
reduce the heat
reduce by half
simmer to reduce

Business

reduce overheads
reduce workforce
reduce expenses
reduce turnaround time

Conversation Starters

"What are some ways you try to reduce waste in your daily life?"

"Do you think companies should do more to reduce their plastic use?"

"How do you usually reduce stress after a long day at work?"

"Have you ever had to reduce your spending to save for something big?"

"What is the best way for a city to reduce traffic congestion?"

Journal Prompts

Write about a habit you would like to reduce and why it would improve your life.

Describe a time when you had to reduce a complex problem to a simple solution.

Reflect on how your community could reduce its environmental impact.

If you could reduce the length of your work day, how would you spend the extra time?

Think about a time you were reduced to tears. What happened and how did you feel?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Reduce is considered neutral to formal. In very casual conversation, people might say 'cut' or 'cut down on' instead. For example, 'I'm cutting down on sugar' is more common than 'I'm reducing my sugar intake' when talking to friends.

In standard English, it is better to say 'The price was reduced' or 'The price decreased.' 'Reduce' usually needs someone or something to do the action. However, in some business contexts, you might hear 'The price reduced,' but it is less common.

'Reduce by' tells you the amount of the change (e.g., 'reduced by $10' means it is $10 cheaper). 'Reduce to' tells you the final result (e.g., 'reduced to $10' means the final price is $10).

In cooking, to 'reduce' a liquid means to boil it so that some of the water evaporates. This makes the sauce thicker and the flavor stronger. You might say, 'Reduce the balsamic vinegar until it becomes a glaze.'

This is a common idiom meaning to make someone cry. It usually happens because of something sad, frustrating, or overwhelming. For example, 'The beautiful music reduced the audience to tears.'

Yes, but be careful. 'Reducing staff' means firing people. 'He was reduced to a shadow of his former self' means he became very weak. It often describes a person being forced into a lower or worse state.

In math, reducing a fraction means simplifying it. For example, 4/8 can be reduced to 1/2. You divide the top and bottom by the same number until they can't be divided anymore.

Yes, 'reduction' is the noun. For example, 'There was a reduction in the price' or 'The company announced a reduction in its workforce.'

Yes, 'reduce speed' is a very common phrase, especially on road signs. It means the same as 'slow down.' You might see a sign that says 'Reduce speed now' near a construction zone.

It is an environmental slogan. 'Reduce' is the first step: try to buy less and use less so you don't create waste in the first place. It is considered the most important of the three steps.