increase
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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growth or augmentation in numbers, size, strength, quality, etc..
the increase of crime.
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the act or process of increasing.
- Synonyms:
- expansion, enlargement
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that by which something is increased.
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the result of increasing.
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produce of the earth.
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product; profit; interest.
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Obsolete.
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multiplication by propagation; production of offspring.
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offspring; progeny.
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verb
noun
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the act of increasing; augmentation
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the amount by which something increases
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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
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increasernoun
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nonincreasenoun
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preincreasenoun
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superincreasenoun
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reincreaseverb
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preincreaseverb (used with object)
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superincreaseverb (used with object)
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increasableadjective
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nonincreasableadjective
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proincreaseadjective
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quasi-increasedadjective
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unincreasableadjective
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unincreasedadjective
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increasedlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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increasesimple
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increasessimple
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have increasedperfect
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has increasedperfect
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am increasingprogressive
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are increasingprogressive
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is increasingprogressive
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have been increasingperfect progressive
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has been increasingperfect progressive
Past
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increasedsimple
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had increasedperfect
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was increasingprogressive
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were increasingprogressive
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had been increasingperfect progressive
Future
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!
Vocabulary lists containing increase
"Siberian Survivors" and "Tigers in the Wild"
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Arithmetic, List 1
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Unit 17, Lesson 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The BOJ’s post-meeting conference could be an important driver of yen strength next week if Gov. Ueda “flags the risk of an increase in the policy interest rate soon,” Capurso adds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
"We continue to expect our capex to increase significantly in 2027, and will provide more details at a later date."
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
A study in Algeria, external, published this year, has shown a significant increase in camel deaths during summer heatwaves.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
“She’s just going to continue to get stronger on that ankle and her minutes will increase, and her role will continue to grow.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
“I hope I am aware that they may be too noisy for your father—or even may be some encumbrance to you, if your visiting engagements continue to increase as much as they have done lately.”
From "Emma" by Jane Austen
The central bank previously delivered a cumulative 100 basis points of rate increases in May and June.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Major League Soccer has reportedly seen significant increases in ticket sales.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
Sales ticked 0.3% higher, but much of that was due to price increases.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
The shuttle greatly increases both the speed and efficiency of triplet energy transfer compared with a methylated analog that does not contain the proton shuttle.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
Explosive increases in some kinds of soil organisms have occurred when others have been reduced by insecticides, disturbing the relation of predator to prey.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
The increased scrutiny by the US of Chinese AI companies also comes as Trump is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in September.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Revenue rose 10% to $3.94 billion, driven by increased fuel surcharge revenue paired with higher volume and pricing across merchandise, intermodal and coal.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
Tesla reported weaker-than-expected quarterly profits on Wednesday despite increased auto sales, depressing shares in after-hours trading amid questions over massive capital spending plans.
From Barron's ● Jul. 22, 2026
Many people who have opted for ARMs are likely to be able to absorb those increased costs, according to ICE data.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
Mrs. Weston’s friends were all made happy by her safety; and if the satisfaction of her well-doing could be increased to Emma, it was by knowing her to be the mother of a little girl.
From "Emma" by Jane Austen
They were put back on sale as general admission tickets, increasing the number available for genuine fans.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
And the bottoms are often rounded, increasing your chances of slipping as you get in or out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026
The year after they bought the house, their property taxes went up $800 a month, increasing their total housing costs.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
Engineers have traditionally prevented this interference by increasing the distance between antennas, but wider spacing creates a different set of problems.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 22, 2026
“But it was a sight we did not like, for the floes were thudding against our floeberg with increasing violence. Our temporary home was being swept away at an unpleasantly rapid rate.”
From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
