increase
1 of 2verb
in·crease in-ˈkrēs 
ˈin-ˌkrēs
ˈin-ˌkrēs increased; increasing
intransitive verb
1
: to become progressively greater (as in size, amount, number, or intensity)
2
: to multiply by the production of young
transitive verb
1
: to make greater : augment
2
obsolete : enrich
increasable
in-ˈkrē-sə-bəl
adjective ˈin-ˌkrē-
increaser noun
increase
2 of 2noun
in·crease ˈin-ˌkrēs in-ˈkrēs
in-ˈkrēs 1
: the act or process of increasing: such as
a
: addition or enlargement in size, extent, or quantity
b
obsolete : propagation
2
: something that is added to an original stock or amount by augmentation or growth (such as offspring, produce, profit)
Synonyms
Verb
- accelerate
- add (to)
- aggrandize
- amplify
- augment
- boost
- build up
- compound
- enlarge
- escalate
- expand
- extend
- hype
- multiply
- pump up
- raise
- swell
- stoke
- supersize
- up
Noun
- accretion
- accrual
- addendum
- addition
- augmentation
- boost
- expansion
- gain
- increment
- more
- plus
- proliferation
- raise
- rise
- step-up
- supplement
- uptick
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The house increased in value. She increased her wealth substantially. Noun an increase in life expectancy The employees expect some increase in wages. The construction will probably cause some increase in traffic delays. The report showed increases of between 20 and 30 percent. an increase of three dollars See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Annie Waldman, ProPublica, 12 Sep. 2022 During the last two fiscal years, Lamont has blocked efforts by progressives to create a corporation tax surcharge or make other income tax changes that would increase burdens on Connecticut’s wealthiest households. Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 10 Sep. 2022 The Democratic governor's calls for conservation also drew criticism about new state policies governing electric vehicles and other measures that will only increase energy demand. Kathleen Ronayne, ajc, 7 Sep. 2022 The county also will be hit by strong offshore winds that will greatly increase the risk of wildfires. San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 Liss-Riordan loaned her campaign $9.3 million leading up to the primary election, a number that could increase once all figures are tallied. Milton J. Valencia, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 Rates, before factoring in residential add-ons that increase the bills for many people, range from 1% to 3% in the other 56 villages and cities, with 37 below 2.25%, three exactly at 2.25%, and 17 above 2.25%. Zachary Smith, cleveland, 4 Sep. 2022 The scientists estimated that would increase a person's protection against symptomatic infection over the next six months from 50% to 86.5%. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 1 Sep. 2022 That initiated a process that could increase membership from 1,200 to more than 6,000. Tim Brown, WSJ, 29 Aug. 2022 Carol Ryan, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 Fed watchers and the financial markets increasingly expect another increase of that scale next week, since the Fed is rushing to get rates high enough to slow down the economy. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2022 Three airlines drove this increase: Delta Air Lines hired 2,981 new workers that month, United Airlines added 1,322 and Southwest Airlines added 1,007. Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 13 Sep. 2022 The data, which will reveal how prices moved in August, arrives little more than a week before Federal Reserve officials meet to determine what investors expect to be another borrowing cost increase aimed at fighting inflation. Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2022 Fire scientists, cultural practitioners and government officials have overwhelmingly called for a dramatic increase in the use of prescribed fire to restore balance to these areas. Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had forecast an 8.1% annual increase. Rob Wile, NBC News, 13 Sep. 2022 Homeowners will see their fire fee increase by $10 to $321, boosting city coffers by $50 million. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 13 Sep. 2022 Portland has seen a sharper increase in violent crime than many other major cities. Fox News, 13 Sep. 2022 See More
Verb
But the court left other provisions in place, including ones that increase penalties for helping voters who don’t qualify and require people who assist voters to fill out more paperwork. Annie Waldman, ProPublica, 12 Sep. 2022 During the last two fiscal years, Lamont has blocked efforts by progressives to create a corporation tax surcharge or make other income tax changes that would increase burdens on Connecticut’s wealthiest households. Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 10 Sep. 2022 The Democratic governor's calls for conservation also drew criticism about new state policies governing electric vehicles and other measures that will only increase energy demand. Kathleen Ronayne, ajc, 7 Sep. 2022 The county also will be hit by strong offshore winds that will greatly increase the risk of wildfires. San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 Liss-Riordan loaned her campaign $9.3 million leading up to the primary election, a number that could increase once all figures are tallied. Milton J. Valencia, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2022 Rates, before factoring in residential add-ons that increase the bills for many people, range from 1% to 3% in the other 56 villages and cities, with 37 below 2.25%, three exactly at 2.25%, and 17 above 2.25%. Zachary Smith, cleveland, 4 Sep. 2022 The scientists estimated that would increase a person's protection against symptomatic infection over the next six months from 50% to 86.5%. Brenda Goodman, CNN, 1 Sep. 2022 That initiated a process that could increase membership from 1,200 to more than 6,000. Tim Brown, WSJ, 29 Aug. 2022 Noun
This historic shift is likely to be cemented by last week’s 0.75 percentage-point interest increase by the European Central Bank. Carol Ryan, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 Fed watchers and the financial markets increasingly expect another increase of that scale next week, since the Fed is rushing to get rates high enough to slow down the economy. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2022 Three airlines drove this increase: Delta Air Lines hired 2,981 new workers that month, United Airlines added 1,322 and Southwest Airlines added 1,007. Michael Salerno, The Arizona Republic, 13 Sep. 2022 The data, which will reveal how prices moved in August, arrives little more than a week before Federal Reserve officials meet to determine what investors expect to be another borrowing cost increase aimed at fighting inflation. Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Sep. 2022 Fire scientists, cultural practitioners and government officials have overwhelmingly called for a dramatic increase in the use of prescribed fire to restore balance to these areas. Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 13 Sep. 2022 Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had forecast an 8.1% annual increase. Rob Wile, NBC News, 13 Sep. 2022 Homeowners will see their fire fee increase by $10 to $321, boosting city coffers by $50 million. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 13 Sep. 2022 Portland has seen a sharper increase in violent crime than many other major cities. Fox News, 13 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English encresen, from Anglo-French encreistre, from Latin increscere, from in- + crescere to grow — more at crescent
First Known Use
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing increase
Kids Definition
increase 1 of 2
verb
in·crease in-ˈkrēs
increased; increasing
: to make or become greater
Skill increases with practice.
increase
2 of 2noun
in·crease ˈin-ˌkrēs
: an addition or enlargement in size, extent, or quantity
He received a pay increase.
increase 1 of 2
verb
1
as in to boost
to make greater in size, amount, or number we have to increase the number of season-ticket holders if the local sports franchise is to survive Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- boost
- accelerate
- augment
- expand
- multiply
- raise
- enhance
- extend
- intensify
- maximize
- amplify
- escalate
- up
- swell
- strengthen
- reinforce
- stoke
- enlarge
- compound
- build up
- aggrandize
- hype
- skyrocket
- heighten
- spike
- supplement
- supersize
- lengthen
- pump up
- add (to)
- develop
- prolong
- jump
- inflate
- complement
- boom
- stretch
- elongate
- draw out
- distend
- magnify
- dilate
- accumulate
- blow up
- protract
- amass
- bump (up)
- collect
- ratchet (up)
- rachet (up)
- reenforce
- flesh (out)
- follow up
- parlay
- beef (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- decrease
- reduce
- diminish
- lessen
- lower
- abate
- subtract (from)
- downsize
- shorten
- curtail
- abridge
- dwindle
- abbreviate
- minify
- compress
- constrict
- de-escalate
- contract
- condense
- retrench
- cut back
2
as in to rise
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number the number of Internet users increased exponentially during the 1990s Synonyms & Similar Words
- rise
- accelerate
- expand
- swell
- multiply
- intensify
- gain
- climb
- accumulate
- surge
- spread
- wax
- escalate
- heighten
- roll up
- boom
- enlarge
- proliferate
- jump
- mount
- balloon
- snowball
- skyrocket
- appreciate
- mushroom
- build up
- peak
- burgeon
- bourgeon
- bulk
- redouble
- inflate
- rocket
- distend
- crest
- crescendo
- blow up
- puff (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- decrease
- diminish
- lessen
- recede
- contract
- wane
- dwindle
increase
2 of 2noun
1
as in boost
something added (as by growth) shortly after he turned 12, he had a sudden height increase Synonyms & Similar Words
- boost
- gain
- raise
- addition
- rise
- increment
- more
- augmentation
- expansion
- accumulation
- plus
- uptick
- proliferation
- accrual
- supplement
- step-up
- spike
- continuation
- accretion
- addendum
- jump
- extension
- complement
- upturn
- collection
- gathering
- appendix
- accession
- assemblage
- uptrend
- run-up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- decrease
- reduction
- lowering
- decline
- loss
- diminution
- lessening
- depletion
- shrinkage
- decrement
- diminishment
- fall
- abatement
- falloff
- deduction
- drop-off
- subtraction
- step-down
2
as in accumulation
the act or process of becoming greater in number the increase in the number of students enrolled at the school was very gradual Synonyms & Similar Words
- accumulation
- accumulating
- addition
- multiplication
- doubling
- proliferation
- rise
- mushrooming
- growth
- tripling
- quadrupling
- expansion
- rise
- escalation
- creep
- increment
- boost
- augmentation
- spread
- inflation
- enlargement
- gain
- lengthening
- amplification
- extension
- distension
- cumulation
- accrual
- hike
- distention
- accretion
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- decrease
- reduction
- lowering
- diminishing
- diminution
- drop
- lessening
- shrinkage
- compression
- contracting
- fall
- contraction
- diminishment
- shrinking
- abatement
- constriction
- falloff
- condensation
- compressing
- condensing
- shortening
- retrenchment
- drop-off
- constricting
- retrenching
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of increase are augment, enlarge, and multiply. While all these words mean "to make or become greater," increase used intransitively implies progressive growth in size, amount, or intensity; used transitively it may imply simple not necessarily progressive addition.
his waistline increased with age
increased her landholdings
The words augment and increase are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, augment implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed.
the inheritance augmented his fortune
While in some cases nearly identical to increase, enlarge implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity.
enlarged the kitchen
The words multiply and increase can be used in similar contexts, but multiply implies increase in number by natural generation or by indefinite repetition of a process.
with each attempt the problems multiplied