Word · CEFR C2 · Frequency #4526
diminishing
减少；减小；减弱
diminishing is the present participle of diminish.
To become or to make something become smaller or less.
- 1.
To make smaller.
使变小。
- 2.
To become less or smaller.
变得较少或更小。
- 3.
To make appear smaller than in reality; to dismiss as unimportant.
使显得比实际小；轻视为不重要。
- 4.
To lessen the authority or dignity of; to put down; to degrade; to abase; to weaken; to nerf (in gaming).
削弱权威或尊严；贬低；降低；减弱；在游戏中削弱。
- 5.
To taper.
逐渐变细。
- 6.
To disappear gradually.
逐渐消失。
- 7.
To take away; to subtract.
减少；减去。
贬低；轻视；削弱；降低；逐渐消失；消退；减去；扣除；逐渐变细；变尖
In use
The water level in the lake begins to diminish during the dry season.
His influence within the company gradually diminished after the scandal.
Adding more sugar will diminish the sourness of the lemon juice.
diminish + noun phrase
及物用法，意为'使减少'。
The new evidence diminishes the value of his testimony.
新证据降低了他证词的价值。
diminish in + noun
不及物用法，后接in表示在某方面减少。
The sound diminished in volume.
声音的音量减小了。
diminish as + noun phrase
不及物用法，后接as表示随着某情况变化而减少。
Connections
Collocations
- diminish in value
- 价值减少
- The painting diminished in value over the years.这幅画多年来价值减少了。
- diminish the importance
- 削弱重要性
- Don't diminish the importance of teamwork.不要削弱团队合作的重要性。
- diminish over time
- 随时间减少
- Her enthusiasm diminished over time.她的热情随时间减少了。
- diminish significantly
- 显著减少
- The population diminished significantly after the epidemic.疫情过后人口显著减少了。
- diminish one's role
- 削弱某人的角色
- The new policy diminished his role in the company.新政策削弱了他在公司的角色。
- diminishing returns
Learner notes
Memory Tip
diminish 里有 mini（小），联想为‘使变小’。
Context & Register
语域：mixed 常见场景：abstract discussions、professional criticism、everyday description of decline ‘diminish’ 多用于正式或抽象语境，表示降低权威、尊严或声誉；在日常对话中也用于表示数量或程度减少，但此处侧重抽象意义。
Grammar Note
可及物或不及物，及物时意为'使减少'或'贬低'，不及物时意为'减少'。
Pronunciation & Spelling
Only 'finish' and 'Finnish' rhyme with 'diminish' (identical stressed vowel /ɪ/ and ending /ʃ/). The others share the '-ish' ending but have different stressed vowels, so they do NOT rhyme.
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 2，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, OCTANOVE, WIKTIONARY.