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

• increases
  plural

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

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• increases
  plural

Participles

• increasing
  present
• increased
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• increase
  simple
• increases
  simple
• have increased
  perfect
• has increased
  perfect
• am increasing
  progressive
• are increasing
  progressive
• is increasing
  progressive
• have been increasing
  perfect progressive
• has been increasing
  perfect progressive

Past

• increased
  simple
• had increased
  perfect
• was increasing
  progressive
• were increasing
  progressive
• had been increasing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will increase
  simple
• will have increased
  perfect
• will be increasing
  progressive
• will have been increasing
  perfect progressive

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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

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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

See Examples For:

increase increases increased increasing

Prices for crude energy products jumped 14.4%, following a 7.1% increase in August, with both conventional crude oil and synthetic crude oil notching monthly rises last month.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

He reaffirmed his confidence that L'Oreal will manage to increase its sales and profits again this year, but did not provide any figures.

From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2026

Rather than simply illuminating a specimen, the laser interacts directly with the microscope's electron beam, altering its phase to increase image contrast.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026

The truth is it’s a bit of both—a baseball team needs smart management and talent development, but having loads of money can make up for mistakes and increase the franchise’s margin for error.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

As a result, people started buying and playing Mozart to their children thinking that this would increase their intelligence.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

They can reveal whether a new purchase adds a different source of returns or increases an existing bet.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

The company is also facing cost increases for aluminum and fuel, and it hasn’t raised its overall beer prices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

“I could imagine that the likelihood of going to college increases, and I could also imagine that the quality of college also improves because college readiness is being affected by these investments,” Johnson said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

Some businesses have told the BBC they were still struggling after the "shock" increases in employers' NI contributions in 2024 and were hoping for tax reliefs.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

My affection for my guest increases every day.

From "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley

Train cancellations and speed restrictions are possible because of the increased danger of branches and trees blocking railways.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

Volatility in financial markets has increased, contributing to a broader correction in semiconductor stocks, it added.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

While funding is an issue to some extent, in their view, demand for compute is so high that the passing of increased financing costs through to end customers is possible.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

Among users whose reported symptoms could be classified, increased appetite was the most common complaint.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026

Razi leaned back, feeling the increased speed and coolness of the wind as the greenery on either side passed in a blur.

From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook

Beijing’s long-term strategy involves increasing iron-ore supply at home and overseas, while also increasing the use of recycled scrap steel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

But with increasing competition for fans' time and attention, and the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 just weeks away, can Call of Duty still cut through?

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Corals are heat sensitive and particularly vulnerable to human-driven climate change, which is warming the world's oceans and increasing the frequency and intensity of damaging bleaching events.

From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2026

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had little success trying to coax long-dated U.S. government bond yields lower by increasing buybacks of this type of debt.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

“I would not wish such pain on anyone. To be the victor. Hinata would have adored this,” she says as they reach the bonfire, watching the flames dance in the increasing rain.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

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Related Words

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

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