reduced
Reduced means that something has been made smaller or less than it was before.
Explanation at your level:
If something is reduced, it is smaller. For example, if a shirt was $20 but now it is $10, the price is reduced. You can say 'The price is reduced.' It is a very useful word for shopping!
When you hear reduced, think of 'less.' We use it for things like speed, size, or cost. If a car has reduced speed, it is going slower. It is a common word in news and store advertisements.
Reduced describes a state where something has been lowered. It is often used in formal writing. For instance, 'The company reported reduced profits.' It shows a clear decrease from a previous, higher level.
In B2 English, we use reduced to describe abstract concepts, such as reduced anxiety or reduced capacity. It implies a deliberate action or a natural decline. It is more precise than simply saying 'smaller' or 'less.'
At the C1 level, reduced can carry nuances of restriction or limitation. We might discuss reduced circumstances to describe a loss of social status or wealth. It is frequently used in academic discourse to describe the simplification of complex systems or data.
In advanced mastery, reduced appears in technical and literary contexts. It can refer to chemical reduction or the stripping away of excess in artistic expression. It highlights the transition from complexity to a state of essential, diminished form, often implying a loss of vitality or influence.
30秒词汇
- Means made smaller or less.
- Used for price, size, and intensity.
- Common in formal and casual settings.
- Antonym is increased.
Hey there! Think of the word reduced as the opposite of 'increased.' When you see this word, it means something has been cut down or made smaller. Whether it's the price of a cool toy or the amount of sugar in a recipe, reduced tells us that the current state is less than the original one.
It is a very handy word in everyday life. You might see it on a price tag at the grocery store, or hear a doctor talk about a reduced risk of illness. It’s all about change—specifically, a change that leads to a smaller number or size.
The word reduced comes to us from the Latin word reducere. If you break that down, re- means 'back' and ducere means 'to lead.' So, originally, it meant 'to lead back' to a previous state.
Over many centuries, the meaning shifted from 'bringing something back' to 'bringing something down' in size or power. It entered Middle English through Old French, and by the 15th century, it was commonly used in the sense of 'diminishing' something. It’s fascinating how a word about leading someone back eventually became a word about making things smaller!
You can use reduced in almost any context where a decrease happens. In casual conversation, we often talk about reduced prices or reduced hours at work. It sounds quite professional, so it works perfectly in business emails or formal reports.
Common phrases include reduced to tears (which means someone became so sad they started crying) or reduced capacity. Because it is a past participle used as an adjective, it describes the result of an action. Always remember that it describes a state that has already happened.
Idioms make language colorful! Here are a few: 1. Reduced to tears: Being so upset you cry. 2. Reduced to nothing: Having everything taken away. 3. Reduced circumstances: Having less money than before. 4. Reduced to a shadow of one's former self: Looking very weak or thin. 5. Reduced to silence: Being made unable to speak.
Pronounced ri-DOOST, the word ends with a crisp 't' sound. The stress is on the second syllable. It rhymes with words like produced, seduced, and deduced.
Grammatically, it functions as a participial adjective. You can place it before a noun (e.g., reduced price) or after a linking verb (e.g., 'The cost was reduced'). It is a versatile word that fits into many sentence structures.
Fun Fact
It once meant to bring someone back to their original state or duty.
Pronunciation Guide
Crisp 't' at the end, clear 'u' sound.
Slightly softer 'd' sound, 'oo' vowel.
Common Errors
- dropping the final 't'
- stressing the first syllable
- mispronouncing the 'c' as 's'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
moderate
moderate
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
高级
Grammar to Know
Past Participles as Adjectives
The reduced price.
Passive Voice
The price was reduced.
Adjective Order
A large, reduced price.
Examples by Level
The price is reduced.
price = cost, reduced = lower
passive adjective
The cake is reduced.
cake = food, reduced = smaller
simple adjective
The cost is reduced.
cost = money
adjective
The bag is reduced.
bag = item
adjective
The tax is reduced.
tax = money to government
adjective
The time is reduced.
time = duration
adjective
The heat is reduced.
heat = temperature
adjective
The risk is reduced.
risk = danger
adjective
The store has reduced prices today.
My work hours were reduced last month.
The speed limit is reduced in school zones.
We have a reduced menu for lunch.
The noise level was reduced significantly.
His stress was reduced after the vacation.
The number of errors was reduced.
The waste was reduced by recycling.
The company announced a reduced workforce.
She felt a reduced sense of urgency.
The patient showed reduced symptoms.
We need to work with a reduced budget.
The team had a reduced chance of winning.
The engine has a reduced power output.
The forest area is reduced every year.
He lives in reduced circumstances now.
The policy led to a reduced crime rate.
They operated at reduced capacity during the holiday.
The medication caused a reduced appetite.
The conflict resulted in a reduced influence for the leader.
We observed a reduced activity level in the lab.
The project suffered from reduced funding.
His role was reduced to mere paperwork.
The island has a reduced population in winter.
The complexity of the system was greatly reduced.
He was reduced to a state of total despair.
The data was reduced to a simple graph.
The argument was reduced to a logical fallacy.
The government implemented a reduced tax burden.
The architectural design was reduced to its bare essentials.
The scope of the study was significantly reduced.
The tension was reduced after the diplomatic talks.
The once-great empire was reduced to a minor state.
Her ambitions were reduced by the harsh reality.
The chemical compound was reduced in the laboratory.
The narrative was reduced to a series of disjointed images.
The landscape was reduced to a grey blur in the rain.
The theory was reduced to its fundamental axioms.
The veteran was reduced to begging in the streets.
The influence of the movement was reduced over time.
常见搭配
Idioms & Expressions
"reduced to tears"
to become so upset that one cries
The sad movie reduced him to tears.
neutral"reduced to nothing"
to have everything destroyed or lost
The fire reduced the house to nothing.
formal"reduced circumstances"
a state of having less money than before
They lived in reduced circumstances after the crash.
formal"reduced to a shadow"
to look very weak or thin
He was reduced to a shadow of his former self.
literary"reduced to silence"
to make someone unable to speak
His argument reduced the crowd to silence.
formal"reduced to rubble"
destroyed completely
The building was reduced to rubble by the earthquake.
neutralEasily Confused
both mean smaller
lessened is for intensity
The noise was lessened.
both mean smaller
decreased is often for numbers
The number decreased.
both mean smaller
lowered is for height
He lowered the flag.
general term
covers all types of decrease
The price was reduced.
Sentence Patterns
The [noun] is reduced.
The price is reduced.
We have a reduced [noun].
We have a reduced budget.
The [noun] was reduced by [amount].
The time was reduced by half.
He was reduced to [state].
He was reduced to tears.
The [noun] is significantly reduced.
The risk is significantly reduced.
词族
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
相关
How to Use It
9
Formality Scale
常见错误
'Reduce' is the verb; 'reduced' is the adjective.
Reduced is an absolute state, use 'further' for degree.
It functions as both, but ensure the structure is clear.
Lowered is better for physical height.
Only one 'e' after the 'c'.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a balloon losing air—it is being reduced.
When Native Speakers Use It
When talking about sales or budgets.
Cultural Insight
Used in grocery stores for items near expiration.
Grammar Shortcut
Always look for the 'ed' ending.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'd' at the end.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't confuse it with 'reduce'.
Did You Know?
It comes from Latin 'to lead back'.
Study Smart
Use it in a sentence about your own life.
Better Writing
Use it to add precision to your descriptions.
Sound Natural
Use it when discussing changes in plans.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
RE-DUCE: Re (back) + Duce (lead). Lead the price back down!
Visual Association
A price tag with a big red line through the original price.
Word Web
挑战
Find three things in your house that have been 'reduced' in size or price.
词源
Latin
Original meaning: To lead back
文化背景
None
Used heavily in retail and economics.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Shopping
- reduced price
- on sale
- clearance
Work
- reduced hours
- reduced budget
- reduced staff
Health
- reduced risk
- reduced symptoms
- reduced pain
Science
- reduced activity
- reduced capacity
- reduced volume
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever bought something at a reduced price?"
"What is a good way to have a reduced stress level?"
"Have you ever seen a reduced menu?"
"Why are some prices reduced?"
"How can we have a reduced impact on the environment?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you bought something reduced.
How can you have a reduced workload?
Write about a situation that reduced you to laughter.
Why is it important to have a reduced carbon footprint?
常见问题
8 个问题It can be the past tense of the verb 'reduce', but it also acts as an adjective.
Yes, in phrases like 'reduced circumstances' or 'reduced to tears'.
Reduced implies a change occurred; small is just a state.
It is neutral and used in all settings.
It is better to use 'greatly' or 'significantly' reduced.
Not necessarily; it means the price is lower than before.
Increased.
R-E-D-U-C-E-D.
自我测试
The shop has ___ prices today.
Reduced describes the price change.
Which means the same as 'smaller'?
Reduced means made smaller.
Reduced is a verb.
It is an adjective here.
Word
意思
They are synonyms.
The reduced price is correct.
The team worked with a ___ budget.
Reduced fits the budget context.
Which is an antonym?
Increased is the opposite.
Reduced can describe a person's status.
Yes, reduced circumstances.
The theory was ___ to its basics.
Reduced fits the context of simplification.
Word
意思
Idiomatic meaning.
得分： /10
Summary
Reduced means something has been made smaller or less than it was before.
- Means made smaller or less.
- Used for price, size, and intensity.
- Common in formal and casual settings.
- Antonym is increased.
Memory Palace Trick
Imagine a balloon losing air—it is being reduced.
When Native Speakers Use It
When talking about sales or budgets.
Cultural Insight
Used in grocery stores for items near expiration.
Grammar Shortcut
Always look for the 'ed' ending.
