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

Despite the increase in DHA, those taking fish oil performed no better on the cognitive tests than participants receiving the placebo.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026

Saudi Aramco is working to increase the capacity of its East-West oil pipeline network to 10 million barrels a day as the kingdom seeks to strengthen alternative export routes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

While many employers will absorb some of the increase, they will pass part of it along to workers in the form of higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2026

Previous research found that increasing the temperature by 12°C caused a tenfold increase in the number of honey bees leaving their nests.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026

Elizabeth found the interest of the subject increase, and listened with all her heart; but the delicacy of it prevented further enquiry.

From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

They can reveal whether a new purchase adds a different source of returns or increases an existing bet.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

This year’s shunto resulted in a third year of overall salary increases averaging above 5%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

“I could imagine that the likelihood of going to college increases, and I could also imagine that the quality of college also improves because college readiness is being affected by these investments,” Johnson said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

A housing association has defended the charges faced by its leaseholders after many complained of huge bill increases to pay for maintenance.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

My affection for my guest increases every day.

From "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley

When used together, the drugs substantially increased the ability of gamma delta T cells to kill cancer cells in laboratory experiments.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 23, 2026

Train cancellations and speed restrictions are possible because of the increased danger of branches and trees blocking railways.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

Private education loan originations increased 15% to $3.4 billion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

Meanwhile the share who rode as passengers increased to 54% from 45%.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

She increased her speed from a march to a trot to a run.

From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown

Previous research found that increasing the temperature by 12°C caused a tenfold increase in the number of honey bees leaving their nests.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026

But increasing shipments from other producing countries, such as Egypt and Nigeria, have nearly filled the shortfall, and prices have stabilized.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

L'Oreal has also moved further into the clinical aesthetic space, increasing its stake in dermatology firm Galderma to 20% last December.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Corals are heat sensitive and particularly vulnerable to human-driven climate change, which is warming the world's oceans and increasing the frequency and intensity of damaging bleaching events.

From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2026

The increasing rate of executions in Alabama went against the national trend.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

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Related Words

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

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