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Prepositions after verbs

Diminish in or diminish by?

Diminish in refers to the area or quality that becomes smaller. Diminish by gives the amount of reduction.

Quick answer

Core difference

Use diminish in before a quality, size, or importance. Use diminish by before a number, percentage, or amount of change.

Profits diminished by 15 percent.
Her interest diminished in recent months.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
diminish by + amount

Showing the degree of reduction

By introduces how much something decreases.

The noise level diminished by half.
2
diminish in + quality

Showing the area affected

In introduces the feature that becomes weaker or smaller.

The painting has diminished in value.
3
diminish over time

Describing gradual reduction

Other time expressions are also common with diminish.

Public support diminished over time.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
diminish by
Sales diminished by 20 percent.
shows the amount of decrease
diminish in
The town diminished in importance.
shows the quality or area affected
diminish with
The pain diminished with rest.
with introduces a condition causing reduction

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using by before a quality

Use in before qualities such as value or importance.

✕ The book diminished by popularity. ✓ The book diminished in popularity.

Using in before a number

Use by for measurements or percentages.

✕ Costs diminished in 10 percent. ✓ Costs diminished by 10 percent.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. Production diminished ___ 8 percent last year.
2. The city diminished ___ influence after the war.
3. Her anxiety diminished ___ regular exercise.

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Frequently asked questions

Can diminish be used without a preposition?

Yes. For example: Interest diminished quickly.

Is diminish in formal?

It is common in formal and academic English.

What is similar to diminish by?

Decrease by and reduce by have similar meanings.

dabble, in, dabble, with "damage to" or "damage by"? dance to, with, on, in or for? "dangle from" or "dangle in"? dare to, for, on, as or at? dash to, into, out, from or on? daydream about, for, in, of or on? "debate in", "debate on" or "debate with"? deceive by, in, into, on or about? "decide on", "decide to" or "decide by"? declare in, by, on, to or as? decline in, by, from, to or for?

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