reduced; reducing
1
a
: to draw together or cause to converge : consolidate
reduce all the questions to one
b(1)
: to diminish in size, amount, extent, or number
reduce taxes
reduce the likelihood of war
(2)
: to decrease the volume and concentrate the flavor of by boiling
add the wine and reduce the sauce for two minutes
c
: to narrow down : restrict
peoples who were reduced to small reservations
d
: to make shorter : abridge
2
archaic
: to restore to righteousness : save
3
: to bring to a specified state or condition
the impact of the movie reduced them to tears
5
a
: to bring to a systematic form or character
reduce natural events to laws
b
: to put down in written or printed form
reduce an agreement to writing
6
: to correct (a fracture) by bringing displaced or broken parts back into their normal positions
8
a
: to diminish in strength or density
b
: to diminish in value
9
a(1)
: to change the denominations or form of without changing the value
(2)
: to construct a geometrical figure similar to but smaller than (a given figure)
b
: to transpose from one form into another : convert
c
: to change (an expression) to an equivalent but more fundamental expression
reduce a fraction
10
: to break down (as by crushing or grinding) : pulverize
11
a
: to bring to the metallic state by removal of nonmetallic elements
reduce an ore by heat
b
c
: to combine with or subject to the action of hydrogen
d(1)
: to change (an element or ion) from a higher to a lower oxidation state
(2)
: to add one or more electrons to (an atom or ion or molecule)
12
: to change (a stressed vowel) to an unstressed vowel
1
a(1)
: to become diminished or lessened
especially
: to lose weight by dieting
(2)
: to become reduced
ferric iron reduces to ferrous iron
b
: to become concentrated or consolidated
c
: to undergo meiosis
2
: to become converted or equated
reducer
noun
Examples of reduce in a Sentence
The medicine reduces the risk of infection.
We are trying to reduce our debt.
Stricter speed limit enforcement has reduced the number of car accidents.
Her prison sentence was reduced from 15 years to 10.
Recent Examples on the Web
Tokyo has pledged to reduce the reliance, but says an abrupt cutoff could threaten its energy security.
—
Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
The basketball committee voted earlier in the week to reduce the maximum number from 10 to six, a change that will be active for the 2025-26 season.
—Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Always cut your biscuits close together to reduce the amount of scraps that need to be re-worked.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
Enhancing thermal transfer and mechanical robustness will improve actuation speed and reliability, while reducing weight and energy use.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reduce
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Hanako Montgomery, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025
The basketball committee voted earlier in the week to reduce the maximum number from 10 to six, a change that will be active for the 2025-26 season.
—Jack Murray, Boston Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Always cut your biscuits close together to reduce the amount of scraps that need to be re-worked.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2025
Enhancing thermal transfer and mechanical robustness will improve actuation speed and reliability, while reducing weight and energy use.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for reduce
Cite this Entry
“Reduce.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reduce. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
reduce
verb
re·duce
ri-ˈd(y)üs 
reduced; reducing
1
: to make smaller in size, amount, or number
reduce the number of accidents
especially
: to lose weight by dieting
2
: to bring to a specified state or condition
3
a
: to lower in grade or rank : demote
b
: to be driven by poverty or need
was reduced to begging
c
: to lessen the strength of
4
: to change an arithmetic expression to a simpler form without changing its value
reduce a fraction to lowest terms
5
: to break down (as by crushing or grinding)
reduce stone to powder
6
a
b
: to combine with or subject to the action of hydrogen
c
: to add one or more electrons to (an atom or ion or molecule)
Medical Definition
reduce
verb
re·duce
ri-ˈd(y)üs
reduced; reducing
1
: to correct (as a fracture or a herniated mass) by bringing displaced or broken parts back into their normal positions
2
a
: to bring to the metallic state by removal of nonmetallic elements
reduce an ore by heat
b
c
: to combine with or subject to the action of hydrogen
d(1)
: to change (an element or ion) from a higher to a lower oxidation state
(2)
: to add one or more electrons to (an atom or ion or molecule)
1
: to become diminished or lessened
especially
: to lose weight by dieting
2
: to become reduced
ferric iron reduces to ferrous iron
3
: to undergo meiosis
Legal Definition
reduce
transitive verb
re·duce
ri-ˈdüs, -ˈdyüs
reduced; reducing
1
: to make smaller
2
a
: to convert (a chose in action) into a chose in possession
enforcement action sought to reduce to possession her property interest in the…determination of money damages—Haynes v. Contat, 643 N.E.2d 941 (1994)
Haynes v. Contat, 643 N.E.2d 941 (1994)
b
: to convert by enforcement through litigation
may reduce a claim to judgment, foreclose, or otherwise enforce the claim—Uniform Commercial Code
Uniform Commercial Code
reducibly
adverb
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