minimize

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈmɪn.ɪˌmaɪz/ UK /ˈmɪn.ɪ.maɪz/ See IPA manual

Freq #19108

Meanings

1

verb
To make something as small as possible.

Wearing a seatbelt helps minimize the risk of injury.
2

verb
To make something seem less important or serious than it really is.

He tried to minimize the damage by blaming bad weather.
3

verb
To shrink a window on a computer screen so it is hidden but still open.

I minimized all the windows so I could see the desktop.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to make something as small... reduce decrease lessen

2 verb · to make something seem less... downplayunderstate belittle

Word family

Forms minimizedminimizesminimizing

Derived forms minimandminimizableminimizationminimizerunminimizeunminimized

Etymology

From Latin minimus + -ize.

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# minimize

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈmɪn.ɪˌmaɪz/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈmɪn.ɪ.maɪz/
**Frequency rank:** 19108

## Meanings
1. To make something as small as possible.
2. To make something seem less important or serious than it really is.
3. To shrink a window on a computer screen so it is hidden but still open.

## Examples
- Wearing a seatbelt helps minimize the risk of injury.
- He tried to minimize the damage by blaming bad weather.
- I minimized all the windows so I could see the desktop.

## Derived Forms
- minimand
- minimizable
- minimization
- minimizer
- unminimize
- unminimized

## Etymology
From Latin minimus + -ize.

## AI Etymology
Minimize comes from Latin minimus + -ize. In present-day English its meanings include to make something as small as possible, to make something seem less important or serious than it really is, and to shrink a window on a computer screen so it is hidden but still open. Related and derived forms include minimand, minimizable, and minimization.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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