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

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

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

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have increased
  perfect
• has increased
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have been increasing
  perfect progressive
• is increasing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am increasing
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been increasing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• increases
  singular 3rd person
• increasing
  participle
• are increasing
  progressive

Past

• had increased
  perfect
• were increasing
  progressive plural
• increased
  participle
• increased
  simple
• had been increasing
  perfect progressive
• was increasing
  progressive singular

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

Appeared in the January 23, 2026, print edition as 'Intel Posts Loss After Spending Increase'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

"Increase slowly - if we suddenly make a dramatic change, our gut goes 'hang on a minute', and we can end up with bloating and constipation."

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2026

Increase in Black Friday retail sales from 2024, excluding autos, up from 2024’s 3.4%, Mastercard estimated.

From Barron's • Dec. 6, 2025

The practice has become so common that the industry gave it a name: Existing Customer Rate Increase, or ECRI.

From Slate • Jan. 8, 2025

Increase the swing of the pendulum, increase, increase, come up and bear against that point of furthest balance-increase-increase- "Heave!"

From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

Related Words

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