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

Their findings revealed an unexpected trend: under certain climate conditions that could become more common in the future, forest soils can actually increase the amount of methane they remove from the atmosphere.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026

That marks an increase of 156,000 people from the end of last year, and accounts for roughly 3.5 percent of Japan's total population, according to calculations based on government estimates.

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

From January 2025 to this October, Tier 1 rates went from 22 cents per kilowatt hour to 27 cents, a 23% increase in a year and a half.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

Producer prices surged 1.3% in September, the largest monthly increase in more than four years and roughly twice what economists expected.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

Jefferson believed that ending the slave trade would ultimately end slavery, but he did not take into account the natural increase of America’s enslaved people.

From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis

The price increases have rippled across the globe, fuelling inflation in economies across a range of income groups.

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

Experts say the increases are likely to keep coming.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 17, 2026

The chances of seeing a storm increases from late summer and throughout autumn with the peak of the season arriving in our winter months.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

Their strategy of “looking through” tariff-related price increases and supply crimps, amid robust demand, is now questioned by Fed officials themselves.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

His nervousness increases as Lovett questions him again, probing Mudd’s story for contradictions, half- truths, and outright lies.

From "Lincoln's Last Days: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever" by Bill O'Reilly

Wade, it was cited as why there was no compelling reason for the government to favor increased population.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026

These included the rising cost of living and increased demand for essential household items and practical support, it said.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

In time, the village increased the size of the protected area to 280 by 240 metres.

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

But with Ventura County facing increased outages, the Simi Valley home game has been moved to Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

The ground shook as a distant rumble increased in volume and the wreckage around us vibrated.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Alex Lane, Director of Operations at WWT, said rising costs and the challenge around income means charities like the WWT are facing "increasing pressure".

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

Beginning around midlife, muscles gradually lose strength and function, making everyday activities more difficult and increasing the likelihood of falls and broken bones.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

The prosecution initially requested 150 years' imprisonment for each of the accused before later increasing that to 210 years.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

Technical progress has benefited the customer without increasing the provider’s profit dollars on that sale.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

Through the soles of my shoes, I felt the shuddering with increasing intensity.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

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Related Words

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