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

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

See Examples For:

increase increases increased increasing

That represents an increase of more than fourfold.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 7, 2026

He said it would increase competition and lower prices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026

We remain committed to NATO’s collective defense and clear-eyed about the need for Allies to increase their capabilities to deter all threats to…

From Salon ● Sep. 7, 2026

The CME Group's FedWatch tool put the chances of an increase at more than 56 percent after figures Friday showed the US economy created far more jobs than expected in August.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

Continuing to shoot the film in Reykjavik over the next months, Gudmundsson kept trying to pin down Bobby for further interviews and increase his involvement in the project.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Diesel cost just $3.71 on average a year ago, and the higher prices are squeezing farmers and truckers, which could be forced to pass on the increases to consumers.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

Required withdrawals can shower these savers with unneeded income that raises tax rates, reduces tax breaks and triggers tax increases.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

Inflation, which measures price increases over time, remains above the Fed's 2% annual target, with prices up 3.4% in the past 12 months, according to the latest data.

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2026

As LZ collects additional data, scientists will be able to see whether the statistical significance of the event increases or whether the apparent signal eventually disappears.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 4, 2026

They said that it increases this one type of brain transmitter.

From "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky

Emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide and dangerous particulate matter increased by 196%, 111%, and 139% respectively.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026

"As the number of private lodging businesses has risen, complaints and troubles around them have increased," the official said on customary condition of anonymity.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

"So not only have you got the deforestation, but peatland drainage of course has also greatly increased the fire risk."

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

At first, higher levels of both amino acids appeared to be associated with an increased risk of death.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 6, 2026

Edna’s desire to see Mademoiselle Reisz had increased tenfold since these unlooked-for obstacles had arisen to thwart it.

From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

She purchased a third unit in the building a few years later for $9.75 million, increasing her Tribeca takeover by over 3,500 square feet.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 7, 2026

It says it is increasing probation and community funding by £700m and making sure offenders who pose the greatest risk receive more face-to-face supervision.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

Data last month found that under-16s in Australia were increasing their use of social media apps such as Instagram and TikTok despite the ban.

From Barron's ● Sep. 7, 2026

Opposing data centers offers people a way to vent their broader concerns about the technology’s increasing dominance.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 6, 2026

We explored each planet, in order of increasing distance from the sun: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Pluto.

From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez

Related Words

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