augment
Americanverb (used with object)
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to make larger; enlarge in size, number, strength, or extent; increase.
His salary is augmented by a small inheritance.
- Synonyms:
- swell
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Music.
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to raise (the upper note of an interval or chord) by a half step.
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to double the note values of (a theme).
In the fugue's development the subject is augmented.
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Grammar. to add an augment to.
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Heraldry. to grant an augmentation to (a coat of arms).
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
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to make or become greater in number, amount, strength, etc; increase
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(tr) music to increase (a major or perfect interval) by a semitone Compare diminish
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(tr) (in Greek and Sanskrit grammar) to prefix a vowel or diphthong to (a verb) to form a past tense
noun
Usage
What does augment mean? To augment something is to add to it in a way that makes it bigger or better.The general sense of augment is used in a variety of contexts where something is literally or figuratively increased in size, number, shape, value, or in some other way.A person might augment their salary with an additional source of income. A material like metal might be augmented to make it stronger. A teacher might augment a course’s textbook with additional learning materials.The noun augmentation refers to the process of augmenting something or the thing that augments. Things that augment or things that are intended to augment can be described as augmentative.A machine or device can be described as augmentable when other parts can be added to it to improve it in some way or give it additional functionality.Augment is also used in much more specific ways in the context of music and grammar, but its general sense is much more commonly used.Example: We recently augmented our nonfiction collection with many new titles by authors from marginalized communities.
Other Word Forms
- augmentable adjective
- augmentor noun
- unaugmentable adjective
- unaugmented adjective
Etymology
Origin of augment
First recorded in 1375–1475; late Middle English au(g)menten, from Anglo-French, Middle French au(g)menter, from Late Latin augmentāre “to increase,” derivative of augmentum “an increase,” from aug(ēre) “to increase” (akin to eke 1 ) + -mentum -ment )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The One Big Beautiful Bill also tightened state financing rules that many hospitals used to augment low Medicaid reimbursement with those changes phasing in over the coming years.
Lewenstein believes AI’s true promise lies in augmenting, not automating, human capabilities.
From MarketWatch
“Chat a while longer, and your sandwich order may be augmented with little tastes of dishes that come up in conversation—a chunk of pork cheek, a few slices of cotechino sausage.”
He extended the bell idea with the jangly celeste, also known as a bell piano, and he augmented those bells with a small string ensemble, a choir and, at one point, even an electric guitar.
From Los Angeles Times
Cash holdings are falling and debt is rising, augmented by an $18 billion bond sale in September.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
