What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
subside
Example
The storm began to subside as the winds died down. [subside: verb]
Example
The house was built on unstable ground and began to subside over time. [subside: verb]
Example
After a few days, her anger towards him began to subside. [subside: verb]
decrease
Example
The company announced a decrease in profits for the quarter. [decrease: noun]
Example
The number of COVID-19 cases began to decrease after the vaccine rollout. [decrease: verb]
Example
As the sun set, the temperature began to decrease. [decrease: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Decrease is more commonly used than subside in everyday language. Decrease is a versatile word that can be used in various contexts, while subside is more specific and less common.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between subside and decrease?
Both subside and decrease can be used in formal and informal contexts, but decrease is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of formality levels.
