increase

[in-krees, in-krees]

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

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

/ ɪnˈkriːsɪdlɪ /

verb

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

noun

1. the act of increasing; augmentation

2. the amount by which something increases

3. increasing, esp becoming more frequent

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of increase¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of increase¹

C14: from Old French encreistre, from Latin incrēscere, from _in- ² + crēscere to grow

Example Sentences

The Office for National Statistics revealed total pay including bonuses for the three months to July was 4.7%, which is likely to be the figure used for the annual increase.

From BBC

Oral cancer is also rising: 14 population registries report increases among men and four among women.

From BBC

"We do need to be aware that you have to increase your intake of certain things and your behaviour around recovery to accommodate your hormonal fluctuations."

From BBC

The men were moved several times as the number of civilian detainees increased.

From BBC

"There are increasing reports of teens feeling tired during the school day because of their smartphone usage," she says.

From BBC

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.