Decreased

Decreased is the past tense and past participle of the verb decrease, and it can also function as an adjective describing something that has become smaller or lower in amount, degree, or size. In grammar, decreased is used to form perfect and passive constructions (for example, The population has decreased) and as a participial adjective (decreased levels). As an adjective, it modifies nouns to convey a reduction relative to a prior state or baseline.

The word derives from the Latin decrescere, meaning to grow less, via Old French and Middle English, with the sense of diminution. In everyday language and in technical writing, decreased is common for describing declines in quantities, frequencies, or measurements. In medical and scientific contexts, “decreased” is often preferred to “lower” when describing numeric values (for example, decreased blood pressure or decreased enzyme activity), as it emphasizes change from a previous value rather than a static comparison.

Related terms include decrease (the noun or base verb), decreasing, and decreased, with synonyms such as reduced, diminished, and lowered. Antonyms include increased, augmented, and risen. Usage conventions may vary by field; some style guides discourage vague phrasing and favor precise thresholds or comparative language.

Examples: The birth rate decreased after the policy change. Levels of glucose decreased during fasting. The decreased risk was observed in the treatment group.