I.
noun
ADJECTIVE
▪ dramatic , drastic , great , large , marked , sharp , significant , substantial
▪
There has been a sharp ~ in pollution since the law was introduced.
▪ modest , slight , small
▪ gradual , progressive , steady
▪ rapid , sudden
▪ corresponding , relative
▪
Fewer houses are available, but there is no corresponding ~ in demand.
▪ general , overall
▪ threefold , tenfold , etc.
▪ 5% , 25% , etc.
VERB + DECREASE
▪ demonstrate , display , exhibit , indicate , reveal , show
▪
This year's figures show a ~ of 30% on last year.
▪ experience , have , suffer
▪
It is not uncommon to experience a ~ in confidence after a divorce.
▪ report
▪
Half the companies in the survey reported a ~ in sales.
▪ cause , lead to , produce , result in
PREPOSITION
▪ on the ~
▪
Marriage is still on the ~.
▪ ~ from … to …
▪
a ~ from 62% to just under half
▪ ~ in
▪
The new treatment led to a huge ~ in the number of deaths.
▪ ~ of
▪
a ~ of 20%
II.
verb
ADVERB
▪ considerably , dramatically , drastically , greatly , markedly , sharply , significantly , substantially
▪ slightly , somewhat
▪
Spending has ~d slightly this year.
▪ rapidly
▪ progressively , steadily
▪ gradually , slowly
PREPOSITION
▪ by
▪
Crime has ~d by 20%.
▪ from , to
▪
Average family size has ~d from five to three children.
▪ with
▪
The number of quarrels among children ~s with age.
PHRASES
▪ ~ in number, size, value, etc.
▪
The heart gradually ~s in size.
Decrease is used with these nouns as the subject: ↑ amount , ↑ concentration , ↑ confidence , ↑ consumption , ↑ deficit , ↑ density , ↑ emission , ↑ incidence , ↑ length , ↑ level , ↑ mortality , ↑ output , ↑ percentage , ↑ population , ↑ productivity , ↑ proportion , ↑ rate , ↑ size , ↑ speed , ↑ value , ↑ velocity , ↑ volume , ↑ width
Decrease is used with these nouns as the object: ↑ amount , ↑ appetite , ↑ blood pressure , ↑ chance , ↑ concentration , ↑ cost , ↑ diversity , ↑ dosage , ↑ duration , ↑ effectiveness , ↑ efficiency , ↑ force , ↑ frequency , ↑ incidence , ↑ intake , ↑ intensity , ↑ level , ↑ likelihood , ↑ mortality , ↑ number , ↑ per cent , ↑ point , ↑ probability , ↑ production , ↑ productivity , ↑ rate , ↑ recurrence , ↑ reliance , ↑ risk , ↑ size , ↑ stress , ↑ temperature , ↑ use , ↑ voltage , ↑ volume , ↑ vulnerability , ↑ width