increase
Americanverb (used with object)
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increases,
present (3rd person singular)
-
increased,
past participle, past
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increasing
present participle
verb (used without object)
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increases,
present (3rd person singular)
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increased,
past participle, past
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increasing
present participle
noun
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increases
plural
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growth or augmentation in numbers, size, strength, quality, etc..
the increase of crime.
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the act or process of increasing.
- Synonyms:
- expansion, enlargement
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that by which something is increased.
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the result of increasing.
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produce of the earth.
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product; profit; interest.
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Obsolete.
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multiplication by propagation; production of offspring.
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offspring; progeny.
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verb
noun
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the act of increasing; augmentation
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the amount by which something increases
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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
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increasernoun
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nonincreasenoun
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preincreasenoun
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superincreasenoun
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reincreaseverb
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preincreaseverb (used with object)
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superincreaseverb (used with object)
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increasableadjective
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nonincreasableadjective
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proincreaseadjective
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quasi-increasedadjective
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unincreasableadjective
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unincreasedadjective
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increasedlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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increasesimple
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increasessimple
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have increasedperfect
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has increasedperfect
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am increasingprogressive
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are increasingprogressive
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is increasingprogressive
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have been increasingperfect progressive
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has been increasingperfect progressive
Past
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increasedsimple
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had increasedperfect
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was increasingprogressive
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were increasingprogressive
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had been increasingperfect progressive
Future
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!
Vocabulary lists containing increase
"Siberian Survivors" and "Tigers in the Wild"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Arithmetic, List 1
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Unit 17, Lesson 2
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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.
See Examples For:
However, despite an increase in some species appearing in the region, there were others whose numbers were dwindling.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
She believes the increase of women studying Engineering centred degrees is a sign that things are changing.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
Friday’s BOJ decision came in the same week that Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh raised the U.S. short-term rate by one-quarter point, the first increase since 2023.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
He cast himself as having blessed the increase, saying he told Warsh he might as well vote with a board that was going to act anyway.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
A lengthy prison term may increase the odds that re-entry will be extremely difficult, leading to relapse, and re-imprisonment.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
In September, nearly all the major mortgage lenders in the UK announced increases in the cost of home loans.
From BBC ● Sep. 19, 2026
In February, under Walter’s ownership, the Lakers announced significant increases in ticket prices for the 2026-27 season.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
The Fed raised rates Wednesday and Chairman Kevin Warsh’s remarks left markets under the impression that more increases could come.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
You should also take into account the benefit period, inflation protection and premium-rate increases, and, as obvious as it sounds, what the policy actually covers.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
He was long overdue for a rise in rank, but for all his size and bluster, the captain disliked nosing about for promotions and salary increases.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
No announcement has been made for seasons beyond then, but the investor presentation provides information on how prices have increased for NBA tickets across the league.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
This again increased in 2023-2024 to 10%, and 10.5% in 2024-2025.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
She increased the number of designer events, hosting more in the past year than Net-a-Porter did in the prior three years combined.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Here’s a screen of companies that have increased their dividend payouts the most over the past five years.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
“I’d been measuring the mountain for weeks. We thought increased swelling and seismicity would herald a big event,” said Swanson.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
Other than early rain in Scotland and northern England, most places will see increasing amounts of sunshine breaking through during the day.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
The company’s Hyve Solutions business, which provides custom hardware such as servers and networking equipment for data centers, should benefit from increasing demand for faster processing and networking, the analysts said.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 18, 2026
Later research also complicates the idea that increasing D-serine should always benefit an aging brain.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 18, 2026
However, incumbent manufacturers face increasing pressure to defend market share from aggressive Chinese competitors, she says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026
“There’s been an increasing swell of support from young women,” Olivia says.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
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.
