increase

[ verb in-krees; noun in-krees ]

See synonyms for: increase increased increases increasing on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),in·creased, in·creas·ing.

to make greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality; augment; add to: to increase taxes.

verb (used without object),in·creased, in·creas·ing.

to become greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality: Sales of automobiles increased last year.
to multiply by propagation.

to wax, as the moon.

noun

growth or augmentation in numbers, size, strength, quality, etc.: the increase of crime.
the act or process of increasing.

that by which something is increased.
the result of increasing.
produce of the earth.
product; profit; interest.
Obsolete.
- multiplication by propagation; production of offspring.
- offspring; progeny.

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

Other words for increase

1	expand, extend, prolong
3	propagate, expand, grow, swell
6	enlargement, expansion

See synonyms for increase on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for increase

1	decrease
2	decrease, abate, contract, lessen, wane

See antonyms for increase on Thesaurus.com

Other words from increase

in·creas·a·ble, adjective
in·creas·ed·ly [in-kree-sid-lee], /ɪnˈkri sɪd li/, adverb
non·in·creas·a·ble, adjective
non·in·crease, noun
pre·in·crease, noun
pre·in·crease, verb (used with object), pre·in·creased, pre·in·creas·ing.
pro·in·crease, adjective
qua·si-in·creased, adjective
re·in·crease, verb, re·in·creased, re·in·creas·ing, noun
su·per·in·crease, verb (used with object), su·per·in·creased, su·per·in·creas·ing.
su·per·in·crease, noun
un·in·creas·a·ble, adjective
un·in·creased, adjective

Words Nearby increase

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use increase in a sentence

The increase is manageable, but logistically challenging given social distancing requirements, says Lithander.
UK Universities Predicted a COVID-19 Crash. They Got the Opposite | Fiona Zublin | September 17, 2020 | Ozy
All regions except the Northeast experienced modest increases in seroprevalence over the course of the summer.
Blood donations show that the United States is still nowhere near herd immunity | Jonathan Lambert | September 17, 2020 | Science News
Historically, the less-expensive systems sell more units, driving an increase in revenue from games.
Sony debuts new PlayStation for the holidays. Here’s how much it costs | Verne Kopytoff | September 17, 2020 | Fortune
There was a marked increase when Brazil hosted the football World Cup in 2014 and followed by the Olympics in 2016.
Podcast: COVID-19 is helping turn Brazil into a surveillance state | Anthony Green | September 16, 2020 | MIT Technology Review
The unprecedented shift to remote work and online learning, combined with a dramatic increase in movie streaming, videoconferencing, and social media traffic, has led to significant spikes in internet use.
How to drive digital innovation necessary during the pandemic | Nick Chasinov | September 16, 2020 | Search Engine Watch

Industry experts claim an increase in awareness amongst men when it comes to styles, design, and price regarding their underwear.
Would You Pay $100 For a 50 Cent Bulge? Men’s Undies Get Expensive | James Joiner | December 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
That indicated a relatively rapid increase in methane, followed by an equally fast decrease.
Methane on Mars: Life or Just Gas? | Matthew R. Francis | December 17, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
In Kentucky the bourbon distillers have had to increase their payrolls by 77 per cent in two years to meet the demand.
Beer Countries vs. Wine Countries | Clive Irving | December 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
In exchange for the increase in sales, the dispensaries pay the service, not the consumer.
Days Are Numbered for Nestdrop, LA’s ‘Uber for Weed’ | Justin Hampton | December 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Both give estimates of how many U.S. workers would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage.
Staving Off a Democratic Civil War | Michael Tomasky | December 2, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The occasion should be seized also to increase the balances of depositors who carry unprofitable accounts.
Readings in Money and Banking | Chester Arthur Phillips
An increase is also noted in the uric-acid diathesis and in diseases accompanied by respiratory insufficiency.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell Todd
Simple constipation and diseases of the large intestine alone do not increase the amount of indican.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell Todd
Instinctively he tried to hide both pain and anger—it could only increase this distance that was already there.
The Wave | Algernon Blackwood
The ability to sustain the tone for a long time will increase, and with it the power of the muscles exercised.
Expressive Voice Culture | Jessie Eldridge Southwick

British Dictionary definitions for increase

increase

verb(ɪnˈkriːs)

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

noun(ˈɪnkriːs)

the act of increasing; augmentation
the amount by which something increases

on the increase increasing, esp becoming more frequent

Origin of increase

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

Derived forms of increase

increasable, adjective
increasedly (ɪnˈkriːsɪdlɪ) or increasingly, adverb
increaser, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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