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# subtract

verb (subtract, subtracts, subtracted, subtracting); noun subtraction

«subtract» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To subtract is to take one number away from another to find what is left or the difference. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subtract/#m1)
2. To subtract something can also mean to take it away from a group or an amount. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subtract/#m2)

### In the lessons

the operation − (minus): we subtract when things go away (give, lose, eat, break, left) and to find a difference (how many more, how much older); in everyday life we subtract to find change from money or time still to wait; phrases: «subtract 5 from 12», «take away»

### Examples

- Student: I subtract: 6 (because of «give», «left»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subtract/#x1)
- Subtract 5 from 12. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subtract/#x2)
- We subtract to find how many more Tom has than Ben. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subtract/#x3)
- If you subtract 3 from 10, you get 7. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subtract/#x4)
- Mum subtracted the cost of the milk from 20 dollars to find her change. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subtract/#x5)
- To check a subtraction, add the answer to the smaller number. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subtract/#x6)
- The coach subtracted one point for a foul. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subtract/#x7)
- Subtraction is the opposite of addition. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subtract/#x8)

### Note

Names the operation itself. Subtract when things go away or to find a difference; trap: «subtract 5 from 12» is 12 − 5, not 5 − 12. The answer of a subtraction is called the difference. Adding undoes subtracting.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «subtract» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subtract/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«subtract» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/subtract.html) on Mova free.