What Is the Opposite of ‘increase’?
The direct opposite of the verb increase is decrease. When something increases, it becomes larger in amount, size, or degree. When it decreases, it becomes smaller. For example, if a store increases its prices, customers pay more. If the store decreases its prices, customers pay less. This simple pair is one of the most useful opposites for everyday English, whether you are talking about numbers, speed, temperature, or effort.
Quick Answer
Opposite of increase = decrease. Both words can be verbs or nouns. Use decrease when something goes down. Use increase when something goes up.
Understanding the Core Opposite
The words increase and decrease are direct antonyms. They are used in formal and informal settings, from business reports to casual conversation. The main difference is direction: increase means upward movement, decrease means downward movement. Both words are neutral in tone, but you can make them stronger or softer with adverbs like slightly, significantly, or dramatically.
Formal vs. Informal Use
In formal writing, such as emails to a manager or academic reports, both increase and decrease are common. For example:
- Formal: “We expect a 10% decrease in operating costs next quarter.”
- Informal: “My energy levels really decrease after lunch.”
In casual conversation, native speakers often use simpler verbs like go up and go down, but increase and decrease are perfectly fine and sound natural.
Comparison Table: Increase vs. Decrease
| Feature | Increase | Decrease |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | To become larger or greater | To become smaller or less |
| Direction | Upward | Downward |
| Common contexts | Sales, temperature, speed, population | Costs, weight, time, risk |
| Example sentence | “The company increased its workforce.” | “The company decreased its workforce.” |
| Noun form | An increase in profits | A decrease in profits |
| Formality | Neutral (formal and informal) | Neutral (formal and informal) |
Natural Examples
Here are real-life sentences that show how decrease works as the opposite of increase:
- “The temperature will increase during the day and decrease at night.”
- “We need to increase our sales, but we also want to decrease our expenses.”
- “Her confidence increased after practice, but his seemed to decrease.”
- “The app’s popularity increased quickly, then slowly decreased over time.”
- “If you increase the pressure, the flow will decrease.”
Common Mistakes
English learners sometimes confuse decrease with similar words or use it incorrectly. Here are the most frequent errors:
Mistake 1: Using “reduce” when “decrease” is better
Reduce is also an opposite of increase, but it is usually transitive (you reduce something). Decrease can be intransitive (something decreases by itself). Compare:
- Correct: “The number of errors decreased.” (intransitive)
- Correct: “We reduced the number of errors.” (transitive)
- Incorrect: “The number of errors reduced.” (sounds unnatural)
Mistake 2: Forgetting the preposition
When you talk about the amount of change, use by:
- Correct: “Sales decreased by 20%.”
- Incorrect: “Sales decreased 20%.” (missing “by”)
Mistake 3: Confusing “decrease” with “decline”
Decline often suggests a gradual or negative change. Decrease is more neutral. For example, “His health declined” sounds serious, while “His energy decreased” is neutral.
Better Alternatives and When to Use Them
While decrease is the most direct opposite, other words can fit better depending on the situation. Here are some alternatives:
- Reduce – Use when someone actively makes something smaller. Example: “We need to reduce waste.”
- Lower – Common for prices, volume, or intensity. Example: “Please lower the volume.”
- Drop – Informal and often sudden. Example: “The temperature dropped overnight.”
- Fall – Similar to drop, but can be gradual. Example: “Stock prices fell sharply.”
- Diminish – More formal, often for abstract things. Example: “His influence diminished over time.”
Use decrease when you want a neutral, clear word that works in most contexts. Use reduce when you want to emphasize an action. Use drop or fall in casual conversation or news headlines.
Mini Practice: Test Yourself
Choose the correct word: increase or decrease.
- If you study more, your knowledge will _______.
- To save money, we need to _______ our spending.
- The population of the town _______ after the factory closed.
- Exercise can _______ your heart rate.
Answers: 1. increase, 2. decrease, 3. decreased, 4. increase
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is “decrease” the only opposite of “increase”?
No, but it is the most common and direct opposite. Other opposites include reduce, lower, drop, and fall. Each has a slightly different nuance, as explained above.
2. Can “increase” and “decrease” be used as nouns?
Yes. For example: “There was an increase in sales.” / “There was a decrease in complaints.” The noun forms are very common in business and academic English.
3. What preposition follows “decrease”?
Use in to show what is decreasing: “a decrease in temperature.” Use by to show the amount: “decreased by 10%.” Use from and to for starting and ending points: “decreased from 100 to 80.”
4. Is “decrease” formal or informal?
It is neutral. You can use it in a business email (“We need to decrease costs”) or in everyday conversation (“My energy decreases after 3 PM”). It is not too formal or too casual.
Final Tip for Learners
When you learn a new word like increase, always learn its opposite at the same time. This helps you build a strong vocabulary pair. Practice by making two sentences: one with increase and one with decrease. For example: “The price increased last month. It will decrease next month.” This simple habit will make your English more precise and natural.
For more word pairs like this, explore our Common Opposites section. If you have questions about how to use these words in writing, visit our FAQ page or read our Editorial Policy to understand how we create these guides.
