minimize

UK: /ˈmɪnɪmaɪz/ US: /ˈmɪnəˌmaɪz/ ,(min′ə mīz′)

Inflections of 'minimize' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

minimizes

v 3rd person singular (US & UK)

minimizing

v pres p (US & UK)

minimized

v past (US & UK)

minimized

v past p (US & UK)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

min•i•mize /ˈmɪnəˌmaɪz/   v. [~ + object] , -mized, -miz•ing. 

1. to reduce to the smallest possible amount or degree:
   to minimize losses.
2. to make something seem of low value; belittle:
   kept minimizing my accomplishments.

min•i•mi•za•tion /ˌmɪnəmɪˈzeɪʃən/  n. [uncountable]
min•i•miz•er, n. [countable] See -min-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

min•i•mize  (min′ə mīz′), v.t., -mized, -miz•ing. 

1. to reduce to the smallest possible amount or degree.
2. to represent at the lowest possible amount, value, importance, influence, etc., esp. in a disparaging way;
   belittle.

Also,[esp. Brit.,] min′i•mise′. 

• minim(um) + -ize 1795–1805

min′i•mi•za′tion, n. 
min′i•miz′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

minimize, minimise / ˈmɪnɪˌmaɪz/ verb (transitive)

1. to reduce to or estimate at the least possible degree or amount
2. to rank or treat at less than the true worth; belittle

ˌminimiˈzation, ˌminimiˈsation noun

ˈminiˌmizer, ˈminiˌmiser noun