As the glacier melts, the volume of fresh water in the river gradually diminishes over the summer months.
随着冰川融化，河流中的淡水量在夏季几个月里逐渐减少。
Which choice best defines “diminish”?
A — Make or become smaller. “diminish” means make or become smaller.
Which word means “make or become smaller”?
C — diminish. “diminish” means make or become smaller.
diminish — make or become smaller. In Chinese: 减少，缩小.
diminish is pronounced /dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/.
As the glacier melts, the volume of fresh water in the river gradually diminishes over the summer months. (随着冰川融化，河流中的淡水量在夏季几个月里逐渐减少。)
decrease, reduce, lessen — all close in meaning to diminish (make or become smaller).
increase, augment — each the opposite of diminish (make or become smaller).
Yes. diminish is on the SAT Prep Easy list — mid-frequency academic words that do get tested. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.
di(down)+mini(small)+ish(cause)