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

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Etymology

Origin of increment

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

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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

"Nevertheless, it is important to remember that each carbon dioxide emission causes another increment of global warming and so each emission avoided is an increment of global warming avoided."

From Salon ● Aug. 20, 2024

“The animals are adapted to harsh environments, but they are on the edge. Any small increment of change will decimate populations.”

From Seattle Times ● May 28, 2024

His speed in designing and building the apparatus was more impressive than the results he obtained, which matched Swann’s expectations and therefore advanced science by a tiny increment, if at all.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

He often replies that after years of tracking his time in six-minute increments, he is glad to no longer quantify how he spends it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026

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

The author has been faithfully logging her own schedule for a full decade, dividing each day’s 24 hours into 30-minute increments on a spreadsheet.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026

As with all pitched warm-ups, start at the bottom of the range and move up in half-step increments and then back down.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

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