WordGarden.iominimize
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈɪnɪmˌaɪz/
US
- /ˈmɪnəˌmaɪz/
Meanings
Verb
to reduce something to the smallest possible amount, degree, or effect
to make a problem, harm, or responsibility seem less serious or important than it is
to make a function or objective reach its smallest value
More meaningsFewer meanings
to reduce a digital window or app to an icon, bar, or background state
Beyond the definition
To minimize something means to make it as small as possible, whether that is a risk, an error, or even the amount of clutter in your room. Think of a chef trying to reduce waste by using every part of a vegetable, or a doctor trying to lessen the side effects of a medication. It is about bringing something down to its lowest possible level. You might try to reduce damage after a spill or cut distractions while you are studying.
The word comes from "minimum," meaning the least amount possible. So when you minimize something, you are trying to get as close to that minimum as you can. It is often used when something negative is involved and you want to lessen its effect.
To minimize means to reduce something to the smallest possible amount, extent, or importance. It can be used in many situations, from practical tasks to abstract ideas. For example: "The company took steps to minimize environmental damage" means they tried to limit the harm caused by their operations.
It is not just about making things physically smaller; it can also mean reducing impact or importance. You might say, "He tried to minimize his role in the mistake," meaning he made his involvement sound smaller than it really was. Or, "She minimized the risks involved," suggesting she described them as less serious than they actually were.
In computing, minimizing can also mean reducing a window on your screen so it is no longer fully open in front of you. This is a direct use of the same core idea: making something less visible and less in the way.
The word also often suggests deliberate effort. You usually do not minimize something by accident; you actively try to reduce it. It points to a practical way of dealing with problems, risks, or unwanted results. A good negotiator, for instance, will try to minimize losses while maximizing gains.
So whether you are reducing waste, lowering risk, downplaying blame, or shrinking a window on your computer screen, to minimize is to bring something down to its lowest possible level, usually through deliberate effort.
Examples
- 1
Noise control
Close the windows at night to minimize street noise.
- 2
Medical treatment
The doctor adjusted the dose to minimize side effects.
- 3
Travel risk
We left early to minimize the risk of missing the train.
- 4
Environmental design
The new design uses less plastic to minimize waste.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Workplace disruption
She kept the meeting short to minimize disruption to the team.
- 6
Damage control
The company moved quickly to minimize the damage after the data leak.
- 7
Customer impact
We are trying to minimize the impact on customers while the system is down.
- Patternthe impact on + person/group
the effect on them
- 8
Downplaying remarks
He tried to minimize what he had said, but people were still offended.
- Patternminimize what someone said
make it seem less serious than it really was
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- minimize risk
- minimize costs
- minimize damage
- minimize waste
Word family
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Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- minimizeverb
Forms
- minimizing-ing formverb
- minimizedpast tenseverb
- minimizesverb