increase

[in-krees, in-krees]

verb (used with object)

increased, increasing 

1. to make greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality; augment; add to.

   to increase taxes.

   Synonyms: prolong, extend, expand
   Antonyms: decrease

verb (used without object)

increased, increasing 

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, propagate

3. to wax, as the moon.

noun

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

/ ɪnˈkriːsɪdlɪ /

verb

1. to make or become greater in size, degree, frequency, etc; grow or expand

noun

1. the act of increasing; augmentation

2. the amount by which something increases

3. increasing, esp becoming more frequent

Other Word Forms

• increasable adjective
• increasedly adverb
• nonincreasable adjective
• nonincrease noun
• preincrease verb (used with object)
• proincrease adjective
• quasi-increased adjective
• reincrease verb
• superincrease noun
• unincreasable adjective
• unincreased adjective
• increaser noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of increase¹

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”; crescent

Word History and Origins

Origin of increase¹

C14: from Old French encreistre, from Latin incrēscere, from _in- ² + crēscere to grow

Example Sentences

But as government control over the internet increases, fewer and fewer people will find ways to escape it - and that is assuming the internet is still available for them to try.

From BBC

Criminal damage to listed buildings is on the increase, the body which preserves and protects Welsh heritage has said.

From BBC

In addition, the city will dedicate $250,000 toward the development of new affordable housing, formally acknowledge that the ban harmed fair housing efforts and accept increased state monitoring of its housing policies.

From Los Angeles Times

It comes amid increased scrutiny by regulators worldwide over the tech giant's empire in online search and advertising.

From BBC

As well as cutting taxes, Reform's manifesto also said it would considerably increase spending, including on the NHS, defence, policing and prisons.

From BBC

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.