increment

American  

[in-kruh-muhnt, ing-] / ˈɪn krə mənt, ˈɪŋ- /

noun

• increments
  plural

1. 

   something added or gained; addition; increase.

2. profit; gain.

3. the act or process of increasing; growth.

4. an amount by which something increases or grows.

   a weekly increment of $25 in salary.

5. one of a series of regular additions.

   You may make deposits in increments of $500.

6. Mathematics.

   1. the difference between two values of a variable; a change, positive, negative, or zero, in an independent variable.

   2. the increase of a function due to an increase in the independent variable.

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increment British  

/ ˈɪnkrɪmənt /

noun

1. an increase or addition, esp one of a series

2. the act of increasing; augmentation

3. maths a small positive or negative change in a variable or function. Symbol: Δ, as in Δ x or Δ f

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• incremental
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• increments
  plural

Etymology

Origin of increment

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin incrēmentum an increase, equivalent to incrē ( scere ) to grow ( see increase) + -mentum -ment

Explanation

Consider expanding your vocabulary by a small increment, or increase, each day. Increasing your vocabulary by an increment of just two words a day means you’ll learn more than 700 new words a year! Increment is often used in the context of a series of regular increases, so this word comes in handy whenever you’re expanding or improving something over time. Maybe you contribute to your bank account in modest increments each week. Or, when working out at the gym, perhaps you increase the number of sit-ups you do by a small increment each day.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

increment increments

“If it falls down below a certain increment, we have to pause projects,” said J.R.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 2026

News of Yoon's salary increase has drawn criticism among South Koreans, some of whom say they cannot believe he is still getting paid - let alone getting a increment - while he is suspended.

From BBC ● Jan. 13, 2025

That means even a small increment in food prices, even a 1% bump up, can translate into significantly higher profits for retailers.

From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2024

“There’s an increment of people at $9, $10, $11, $12 that are going to be paying,” Jennings said.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 29, 2024

This contributed to his sense of majesty, true enough, but pushed an increment further, the majestic man became His Majesty.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

By advancing in increments, you can iron out problems and manage negative emotions while the stakes are still relatively low.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026

The minimum wage will still increase to $25 in July and continue in increments until reaching $30 in January 2030.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026

American Century’s target-date funds, like the One Choice Target Date Portfolios, come in five-year increments based on your target retirement year.

From Barron's ● Apr. 30, 2026

Not the dramatic science-fiction scenario of AI replacing humans wholesale, but the quieter process of people gradually outsourcing their judgment in increments too small to notice.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026

In this agonizing fashion I climbed toward a cluster of tents reputed to be perched somewhere on the sheer face above, progressing in increments calibrated in inches.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer