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

Compared with the control animals, mice receiving R inulinivorans showed an increase of around 30% in forelimb grip strength, which the researchers used as a measure of muscle function.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 22, 2026

Vegetarian food influencers demonstrate non-meat ways to increase protein in everyday meals with Greek yogurt, beans and cottage cheese.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

Jones said she had spoken with GP practice nurses two weeks ago and was not aware of any increase in patients complaining about respiratory problems, but added this "could change in the months ahead".

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

In his view, Seagate’s pricing power stands to increase as the supply of storage products remains tight.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026

So, while the Nazis did increase the number of new jobs by building and repairing roads, railways, and houses as well as building up their military, they also took employment away from other Germans.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

Even as propaganda, it was pretty dumb — never discounting for currency fluctuation, alternative sourcing or domestic capacity increases, to name a few counterindicators.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026

The union’s negotiating team had endorsed the offer, which provides for wage increases it said could compound to about 32% over the length of the contract.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

He said traders were focused on the "daunting" amounts of global borrowing from governments and corporations, as well as increases in oil prices.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

The notion that this enhanced surveillance increases safety doesn’t actually hold up, though.

From Slate ● Aug. 21, 2026

There’s no way to measure how long I fall, but for the popping of my ears as the air pressure increases.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

Exercise can stimulate appetite, leading to increased food intake.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 22, 2026

“Sales of our proteins and modifiers have increased 300 to 400%. They’ll substitute out three ounces of chicken and get a full chicken breast, which is eight ounces of chicken.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

According to EasyJet Holidays, cited by the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, bookings to Greece increased by 18 percent in the weeks following the film's international release in mid-July.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

Fuel-export curbs spurred refineries to cut back on processing; travelers flew less, deterred by increased surcharges.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

But while Galileo’s public reputation increased, his private life began to pose problems.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Obesity affects millions of people around the world and can significantly disrupt immune function, increasing susceptibility to both infections and cancer.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 22, 2026

More and more, diners are leaning into “proteinmaxxing,” the viral health trend that promotes increased protein intake with the goal of boosting metabolism, decreasing appetite and increasing muscle mass.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

But they face mounting pressure from habitat loss, fragmentation, and increasing human-elephant conflict.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

However, spending also rose sharply, with social benefits increasing by 2 billion pounds from last year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

When they ascended the steps to the hall, Maria’s alarm was every moment increasing, and even Sir William did not look perfectly calm.

From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

Related Words

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