Subtract

/səbˈtrækt/

Meaning & Definition

verb

To take away a number or amount from another to calculate the difference.

If you subtract 5 from 10, you get 5.

To diminish or reduce in amount or number.

You should subtract time spent on distractions from your total study hours.

To remove a part or portion from a whole.

They decided to subtract the sections of the report that were irrelevant to the main topic.

Late Middle English: from Latin 'subtrahere', from 'sub-' meaning 'from below, beneath' + 'trahere' meaning 'to draw, pull'.

subtracting time

To account for duration taken away from an allocation.

subtract from

To remove part of something, often in relation to amounts or quantities.

subtracting odds

To consider or lessen probabilities or chances.

addition

The process of adding numbers together.

deduction

The process of taking away or subtracting.

reduction

The act of making something smaller in size, amount, or degree.

Take away

Just subtract that from your total.

Deduct

You can subtract that expense from your taxes.