reducing

Verb

reduce (third-person singular simple present reduces, present participle reducing, simple past and past participle reduced)

1. (transitive) To bring down the size, quantity, quality, value or intensity of something; to diminish, to lower.
   • to reduce weight, speed, heat, expenses, price, personnel etc.

   Synonyms:

   cut, decrease, lower, abase, abate, belittle, besmall, bring down, embase, decrement

   Antonyms:

   enlarge, increase, add, amplify, augment, dilate, eke / eke out, elevate, embiggen, enhance

2. (intransitive) To lose weight.
3. (transitive) To bring to an inferior rank; to degrade, to demote.
   • to reduce a sergeant to the ranks

   Synonyms:

   disparage, humble, relegate, sink, abase, bring down to size, cut down to size, debase, defame, degrade

4. (transitive) To humble; to conquer; to subdue; to capture.
   • to reduce a province or a fort

   Synonyms:

   overcome, surmount, vanquish, beat, bring down, convince, chew up, eat someone for breakfast, eat someone's lunch, flog

5. (transitive) To bring to an inferior state or condition.
   • to reduce a city to ashes
6. (transitive) To be forced by circumstances (into something one considers unworthy).
   • reduced to silence

See all 19 meanings of reduce