increase

American  

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

verb (used with object)

increases, present (3rd person singular) increased, past participle, past increasing present participle

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)

increases, present (3rd person singular) increased, past participle, past increasing present participle

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

3. to wax, as the moon.

noun

increases plural

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• increases
  plural

Participles

• increasing
  present
• increased
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• increase
  simple
• increases
  simple
• have increased
  perfect
• has increased
  perfect
• am increasing
  progressive
• are increasing
  progressive
• is increasing
  progressive
• have been increasing
  perfect progressive
• has been increasing
  perfect progressive

Past

• increased
  simple
• had increased
  perfect
• was increasing
  progressive
• were increasing
  progressive
• had been increasing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will increase
  simple
• will have increased
  perfect
• will be increasing
  progressive
• will have been increasing
  perfect progressive

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”; see crescent

Explanation

The noun increase indicates growth of something that gets bigger in number or volume. When used as a verb, it means the act of growing or gaining more. However it's used, it refers to something that has gotten bigger. Anything that can add on can increase. You can increase your speed to go faster, increase your strength by working out, increase your knowledge by studying, and increase your circle of friends by meeting more people. You can work harder to see an increase of profits, and you can prevent an increase in your electric bill by turning out unnecessary lights. And now you’ve increased your vocabulary by learning a new word!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

increase increases increased increasing

Prior to Alphabet’s announcement, Deutsche Bank analyst Benjamin Black wrote: “We think there were limited expectations for Meta to increase its current 2026 guidance of $125 to $145 billion,” in a note last week.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

The company’s optical-communications business grew sales by 32% to $2.07 billion, including a 65% increase in enterprise networks, where its generative-AI product sales grew significantly faster, it said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

On May 15, the spacecraft passed Mars and used the planet's gravity to increase its speed and make a slight adjustment to its path.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026

In the next decade, the smaller Mark II telescope was built to work alongside the larger telescope to increase the observatories capabilities.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

But the increase in employment wasn't what it seemed.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

The analysts reckon that most of the hikes are driven by cloud service providers, while consumer electronics makers are showing fatigue for more price increases.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Breeding speed also increases with warmer conditions, allowing adult jellyfish to reproduce in large numbers, creating so-called blooms.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Other cost-cutting measures were also announced, such as deferring wage increases until 2035 and having senior executives forgo base salary increases in 2027 and 2028.

From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026

But there was a roughly 38% chance of a hike — up from closer to 13% a week ago, when cooler inflation data for June soothed worries over rate increases.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 26, 2026

The music increases in tempo, and now there is something harsher about the way the snakes move.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

Domestic package revenue increased 6% to $14.93 billion, boosted by a 9.3% rise in revenue per package.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

Hilton also increased its room openings by 50% sequentially from the first quarter, and anticipates net unit growth will be 6% to 7% this year, Nassetta said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Researchers found that a 30-minute sauna session increased the number of every type of circulating white blood cell.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026

Delaware Life, which earlier had stated affiliated investments amounted to only about $1 billion, or 3% of its portfolio, increased that number to $16 billion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

His skill in dressing these common-sense predictions up in astrological mumbo jumbo not only established his reputation in Graz, but got his salary increased to the full level appropriate for his post.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Income above this amount is not taxed for Social Security, but does not count toward increasing your future benefits.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

Goldman Sachs affirms its expectations that the Treasury will begin increasing coupon auction sizes from May 2027, with eventual auction-size increases limited to two- to seven-year maturities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

The researchers next investigated whether increasing BiP could compensate for the absence of p58IPK.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026

Mazariegos has in recent months appeared at City Hall to advocate for charter reform, including increasing police accountability, expanding the size of the City Council and advocating for noncitizen voting.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

I take a step back, increasing the distance between him and me.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

Related Words

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