English Verbs To Say 'To Decrease' To Descend - Formal word | IELTSC1
English Verbs To Say 'To Decrease'
To Descend - Formal word meaning the opposite of ‘ascend’. E.g He descended the stairs quickly as the lift was out of order.
To Decrease - The opposite to increase. E.g The decrease in the standard of living was clearly visible. More people relying on social welfare payments and more people are unemployed.
To Fall - This can be used in many situations. It will describe a downward movement. E.g He fell off the chair but was not hurt. Average household income fell by 1.3% in the first two years following the end of the recession.
To Plummet - An opposite to surge. When something falls quickly and steeply we can use plummet. E.g The shares plummeted when the news broke that the company had lost a major government contract.
To Minimise - To lower something to the lowest possible level. E.g People with high-pressure jobs should try to minimise stress levels in other areas of their lives.
To Shrink - To become smaller in size. E.g Sue washed her cardigan on a high-temperature cycle, she noticed that it had shrunk.
To Drop - Similar to fall but cannot always be used in the same way (we cannot say he dropped off the chair!) E.g No sign of spring yet. The temperature dropped to -8C last night. Earnings dropped sharply in the fourth quarter.
