# decreasing

/ˈdiˌkɹisɪŋ/ (US) · /dˈiːkɹiːsɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/decreasing
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 2. getting smaller

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

used to describe something that is currently getting smaller or lower.

For teachers: describing a quantity or value that is in a state of reduction.

- There is a decreasing demand for traditional newspapers as more people read news online.
- The study observed a decreasing trend in local biodiversity, which researchers attributed to rapid urban expansion and habitat fragmentation.

Usage: Usually placed before a noun to describe a trend or pattern.

Teaching tip: Common in academic and technical writing to describe data trends.

### 3. the process of reduction

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act or process of something getting smaller.

For teachers: the gerund form used as a noun to represent the process of reduction.

- The decreasing of prices helped the shop sell all its old stock.
- The steady decreasing of the water level in the reservoir has become a major concern for the local agricultural board.

Usage: Used as the subject or object of a sentence to discuss the concept of reduction.

Teaching tip: This noun use is less common than the simple noun 'decrease'; it emphasizes the ongoing process.

## Examples

- The number of students in the class is decreasing.
- The company is decreasing its spending on advertising this year to save money.
- By decreasing the temperature of the solution gradually, the researchers were able to observe the formation of crystals without the interference of rapid chemical changes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.