subtract

verb

sub·​tract səb-ˈtrakt 

subtracted; subtracting; subtracts

transitive verb

: to take away by or as if by deducting

subtract 5 from 9

subtract funds from the project

intransitive verb

: to perform a subtraction

subtracter noun

Synonyms

• abate
• deduct
• knock off
• take off

Examples of subtract in a Sentence

if you subtract 10 from 23, you get 13

you can subtract the time you spent daydreaming from your total homework time

Recent Examples on the Web

Imports surged by 41% in the last quarter, subtracting from GDP, as companies sought to get ahead of Trump’s global trade fight. —Sean Conlon,pia Singh, CNBC, 29 Apr. 2025

Arm ailments to Ranger Suarez and Cristopher Sanchez have subtracted two good starters from the Phillies. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2025

Since then, the departments have stopped workers from having their union dues automatically subtracted from their salary. —Filip Timotija, The Hill, 25 Apr. 2025

By subtracting these reference images from the target images, the team effectively removed the star's light, isolating the faint signals from the planets. —Victoria Corless, Space.com, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin subtractus, past participle of subtrahere to draw from beneath, withdraw, from sub- + trahere to draw

First Known Use

1557, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for subtract

• abstract
• attacked
• attract
• contact
• contract
• detract
• distract
• enact
• exact
• extract
• hijacked
• impact

Kids Definition

subtract

verb

sub·​tract səb-ˈtrakt 

1

: to take away (as one part or number) from another : deduct

subtract 5 from 9

2

: to perform a subtraction