subtract

verb

sub·​tract səb-ˈtrakt How to pronounce subtract (audio)
subtracted; subtracting; subtracts

transitive verb

: to take away by or as if by deducting
subtract 5 from 9
subtract funds from the project
subtracter noun

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 The Education Department has shown leeway in its interpretation of the Simplification Act; in August, the agency clarified that families who own farms can subtract the value of their homes from their farms' net worth. Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 5 Mar. 2024 Going forward, the calculation for subtracting a pension from one's state income taxes will be more generous for 2024, 2025, and 2026. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 22 Feb. 2024 By subtracting average cloud amounts in ENSO-neutral years from the amounts during El Niño years, a cloud-impact map can be derived. Jay Anderson, Discover Magazine, 21 Feb. 2024 The first Academy Awards ceremony included only 12 awards, and over the ensuing decades categories have at times been added, subtracted, split and combined. Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024 Outlook: Ray’s departure will subtract from the body count on the depth chart, but Ray had fallen a bit. Chris Hays, Orlando Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2024 As noted, the Dow gives more weight to stocks that add or subtract more dollars to their stock price. Alex Veiga, Quartz, 26 Feb. 2024 The University of Cincinnati says that, to determine eligibility for Pell Grants outside of maximum and minimum thresholds, families should subtract their SAI from the maximum Pell Grant award for the year and round to the nearest $5. Robert Farrington, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 Now subtract inflation of 2.5% and the fund’s overhead of 0.15%. William Baldwin, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'subtract.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of subtract was in 1557

Dictionary Entries Near subtract

Cite this Entry

“Subtract.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subtract. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

subtract

verb
sub·​tract səb-ˈtrakt How to pronounce subtract (audio)
1
: to take away (as one part or number) from another : deduct
subtract 5 from 9
2
: to perform a subtraction

More from Merriam-Webster on subtract

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