Words / C1

MIN-im-yz/ˈmɪnɪmaɪz/

To minimise (US minimize) is to make as small as possible, or to treat something as less important than it is: minimise risk, minimise the harm. Reduce and diminish (already in the dictionary) are cousins; maximise is opposite. Do not minimise a missing n as “style”.

Meaning

To make something as small as possible; also to treat it as unimportant.

Examples

• “Minimise delay, not the sample; the n stays in the minute.”
• “Reduce is everyday. Diminish is a C1 cousin already in this course. Play down is the informal “treat as small”. British spelling keeps -ise. Shrink the wait; do not shrink the count.”

Good to know

Make smaller / play down. Everyday: reduce. Cousin: diminish. Opposite: maximise. British: minimise. The n is not optional décor.

Near in meaning

reduce

New