subtract

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /səbˈtɹækt/ See IPA manual

Freq #27163

Meanings

1

verb
To take a number or amount away from another.

Usage: In subtract A from B, start with B and take A away. The order of the quantities matters.

If you subtract three from eleven, the result is eight.

If you subtract the cost of gas from the total, it was a cheap trip.
2

verb
To do a subtraction in arithmetic.

The teacher showed the children how to subtract.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to take a number or amount... take awaydeduct

2 verb · to do a subtraction in... take off

Opposites

addsummate

Word family

Forms subtractedsubtractingsubtracts

Etymology

From Latin subtractus, a form of subtrahō, to withdraw or remove, combining sub- with trahō, whose infinitive is trahere.

trahere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# subtract

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /səbˈtɹækt/
**Frequency rank:** 27163

## Meanings
1. To take a number or amount away from another.
2. To do a subtraction in arithmetic.

## Usage Notes
- To take a number or amount away from another.: In subtract A from B, start with B and take A away. The order of the quantities matters.

## Examples
- If you subtract three from eleven, the result is eight.
- If you subtract the cost of gas from the total, it was a cheap trip.
- The teacher showed the children how to subtract.

## Antonyms
- add
- summate

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: trahere - to pull

## Etymology
From Latin subtractus, a form of subtrahō, to withdraw or remove, combining sub- with trahō, whose infinitive is trahere.

## AI Etymology
Subtract is borrowed from Latin subtractus, perfect passive participle of subtrahō (“to draw from beneath; withdraw, remove”); from sub (“under”) + trahō (“to draw, pull, drag”). In present-day use, it can mean to take a number or amount away from another, or to do a subtraction in arithmetic.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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