increase

American  

[in-krees, in-krees] / ɪnˈkris, ˈɪn kris /

verb (used with object)

increased, increasing

1. to make greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality; augment; add to.

   to increase taxes.

   Synonyms:

   prolong, extend, expand

   Antonyms:

   decrease

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verb (used without object)

increased, increasing

1. to become greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality.

   Sales of automobiles increased last year.

   Antonyms:

   wane, lessen, contract, abate, decrease

2. to multiply by propagation.

   Synonyms:

   swell, grow, expand, propagate, propagate

3. to wax, as the moon.

noun

1. growth or augmentation in numbers, size, strength, quality, etc..

   the increase of crime.

2. the act or process of increasing.

   Synonyms:

   expansion, enlargement

3. that by which something is increased.

4. the result of increasing.

5. produce of the earth.

6. product; profit; interest.

7. Obsolete.

   1. multiplication by propagation; production of offspring.

   2. offspring; progeny.

increase British  

/ ɪnˈkriːsɪdlɪ /

verb

1. to make or become greater in size, degree, frequency, etc; grow or expand

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noun

1. the act of increasing; augmentation

2. the amount by which something increases

3. increasing, esp becoming more frequent

Usage

What does increase mean? To increase is to become greater or more in number, amount, size, or in some other way, as in Our profits will increase as demand increases.As a verb, increase is also used in an active way in which someone or something is doing the increasing, as in I’m going to increase my hours at work or These sunglasses increase visibility.Increase can also be used as a noun referring to a rise or growth in something, as in We are experiencing an increase in applicants.It can also refer to the amount by which something has increased, as in The increase was $5,000 per year.The words increased and increasing can both be used as adjectives, as in an increased appetite or increasing sales.The opposite of increase as both a verb and a noun is decrease.Example: My boss increased my workload, which led to an increase in stress.

Other Word Forms

• increasable adjective
• increasedly adverb
• increaser noun
• nonincreasable adjective
• nonincrease noun
• preincrease noun
• proincrease adjective
• quasi-increased adjective
• reincrease verb
• superincrease verb (used with object)
• unincreasable adjective
• unincreased adjective

Etymology

Origin of increase

First recorded in 1370–1395; Middle English incresen, encresen, from Anglo-French encres-, Middle French encreis(s)-, stem of encreistre, from Latin incrēscere, equivalent to in- in- ² + crēscere “to grow”; crescent

Example Sentences

His teeth are in very poor condition and, as he ages, he knows the risk of cancer and other diseases is increasing.

From Barron's

He said the number of vessels of Russia's "shadow fleet" in the Baltic was increasing.

From Barron's

Only healthcare and utilities have avoided increases in the market share of their top four firms, with many industries experiencing double-digit gains.

From Barron's

The AI disruption narrative has led to an increased focus on software companies’ outstanding debt, which is largely issued as private debt and heavily concentrated in BDCs.

From Barron's

Many people probably don’t know it’s illegal for a moving company to increase its price so significantly, and therefore they don’t push back when they get charged more.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• advance
• boost
• broaden
• build
• build up
• deepen
• develop
• double
• enhance
• enlarge
• escalate
• expand
• extend
• further
• heighten
• intensify
• multiply
• raise
• reinforce
• rise