Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense increases, present participle increasing, past tense, past participle increasedpronunciation note: The verb is pronounced (ɪnkriːs). The noun is pronounced (ɪnkriːs).
1. verb
If something increases or you increase it, it becomes greater in number, level, or amount.
The population continues to increase. [VERB]
Japan's industrial output increased by 2%. [V + by/from/to]
The company has increased the price of its cars. [VERB noun]
The increased investment will help stabilise the economy. [VERB-ed]
We are experiencing an increasing number of problems. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: raise, extend, boost, expand More Synonyms of increase
2. countable noun
If there is an increasein the number, level, or amount of something, it becomes greater.
...a sharp increase in productivity. [+ in]
He called for an increase of 1p on income tax.
...an increase of violence along the border.
Synonyms: growth, rise, boost, development More Synonyms of increase
3.
See on the increase
More Synonyms of increase
increase in British English
verb (ɪnˈkriːs)
1.
to make or become greater in size, degree, frequency, etc; grow or expand
noun (ˈɪnkriːs)
2.
the act of increasing; augmentation
3.
the amount by which something increases
4. on the increase
Derived forms
increasable (inˈcreasable)
adjective
increasedly (ɪnˈkriːsɪdlɪ) or increasingly (inˈcreasingly)
adverb
increaser (inˈcreaser)
noun
Word origin
C14: from Old French encreistre, from Latin incrēscere, from in-2 + crēscere to grow
increase in American English
(ɪnˈkris; ˈɪnˌkris; for n. ˈɪnˌkris; ɪnˈkris)
verb intransitiveWord forms: inˈcreased or inˈcreasing
1.
to become greater in size, amount, degree, etc.; grow
2.
to become greater in numbers by producing offspring; multiply; propagate
verb transitive
3.
to cause to become greater in size, amount, degree, etc.; add to; augment
noun
4.
an increasing or becoming increased
; specif.,
a.
growth, enlargement, etc.
b. Archaic
multiplication, as of offspring
5.
the result or amount of an increasing
a population increase of 10%
Idioms:
on the increase
SYNONYMY NOTE: increase, the general word in this list, means to make or become greater in size, amount,degree, etc. [to increase one's weight, one's power, debts, etc.]; enlarge specifically implies a making or becoming greater in size, volume, extent, etc. [to enlarge a house, a business, etc.]; augment, a more formal word, generally implies increase by addition, often of something thatis already of a considerable size, amount, etc. [to augment one's income]; multiply1 suggests increase in number, specif. by procreation [rabbits multiply rapidly]
OPPOSITES: decrease, diminish, lessen
Derived forms
increasable (inˈcreasable)
adjective
increaser (inˈcreaser)
noun
Word origin
ME encresen < OFr encreistre < L increscere < in-, in, on + crescere, to grow: see crescent
Examples of 'increase' in a sentence
increase
The prediction is significant because forecasters have pencilled a huge increase in demand over the coming decades.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Strong spinal twists help to increase the movement and reach of punches.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There should also be a big increase in copper demand.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This weekend the company increased the urgency of the warning.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Workers no longer get the rewards from increased productivity.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Tax officials are increasing the numbers of property raids they carry out as part of criminal investigations.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
An increasing amount of research is showing that road salt doesn’t just dissolve into thin air.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
The financial and entertainment value are obvious as well as increasing the competition.
The Sun (2016)
It hugely increases the number of rows that can be fitted into a carriage.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This is more than a 10 % increase in the population.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The bug relies on microscopic leg hairs which help to increase the power as it swims.
The Sun (2014)
Too many empty promises and now an increasing number of empty seats.
The Sun (2016)
What temptations does a pastor face as a result of the increased competition?
Christianity Today (2000)
In these circumstances we are almost bound to see an increase in copycat behaviour.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
These reports are increasing in both frequency and scope and scale.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We had a sharp increase in membership.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We need to increase investment in supplier management.
The Sun (2014)
The protest vote comes despite another huge increase in sales across the business.
The Sun (2012)
Smoking and passive smoking increases the risk of infections.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The chemicals also help increase mental and physical strength.
The Sun (2016)
The poor may be always with us but their problems increase when the economy is in trouble.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Its working capital will increase as the company reduces its inventory.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There is an increasing reluctance to grow up.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
She was also determined to find a way to expand without increasing her fixed costs.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The marginal value of liquidity declines as you hold increasing amounts of cash.
Charles A. D'Ambrosio & Stewart D. Hodges & Richard Brealey & Stewart Myers Principles of Corporate Finance (1991)
Raising the legs can help to increase the blood flow to the brain and speed recovery.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Numbers have increased slightly in the past two years.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The money is equal to what would be raised if council tax was increased by one per cent.
The Sun (2012)
Some of the increased spending measured this month may be in anticipation of the increase in tax next year.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It will be a headache for schools to provide the space for a big increase in the pupils eating a hot meal.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Options could include flexible work and improvements in workplace temperature and ventilation in an effort to reduce sick leave and increase productivity.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This has led to a 9% increase in rental prices this year.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
increase
British English: increase /ɪnˈkriːs/ NOUN
If there is an increase in the number, level, or amount of something, it becomes greater.
...a sharp increase in productivity.
American English: increase
Arabic: زِيَادَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: aumento
Chinese: 增长
Croatian: rast
Czech: zvýšení
Danish: forøgelse
Dutch: verhoging
European Spanish: aumento
Finnish: lisäys
French: augmentation
German: Erhöhung
Greek: αύξηση
Italian: aumento
Japanese: 増加
Korean: 증가
Norwegian: økning
Polish: wzrost zwiększenie
European Portuguese: aumento
Romanian: creștere
Russian: увеличение
Latin American Spanish: aumento
Swedish: ökning
Thai: การเพิ่มขึ้น
Turkish: artış
Ukrainian: підвищення
Vietnamese: sự tăng lên
British English: increase /ˈɪnkriːs/ VERB
If something increases or you increase it, it becomes greater in number, level, or amount.
The population continues to increase.
The company has increased the price of its cars.
American English: increase
Arabic: يَزِيدُ
Brazilian Portuguese: aumentar
Chinese: 增加
Croatian: narasti
Czech: zvýšit
Danish: forøge
Dutch: vermeerderen
European Spanish: aumentar
Finnish: lisääntyä
French: augmenter
German: erhöhen
Greek: αυξάνω
Italian: aumentare
Japanese: 増す
Korean: 증가하다
Norwegian: øke
Polish: wzrosnąć
European Portuguese: aumentar
Romanian: a crește
Russian: увеличивать
Latin American Spanish: aumentar
Swedish: öka
Thai: เพิ่มขึ้น
Turkish: artmak
Ukrainian: підвищувати
Vietnamese: tăng
All related terms of 'increase'
pay increase
a rise in pay or salary
tax increase
an increase in the amount of tax that people and companies are obliged to pay
wage increase
the amount by which a salary is increased
salary increase
an increase in the salary or pay given to an employee
increase activity
Activity is a situation in which a lot of things are happening or being done.
increase capacity
The capacity of a building, place, or vehicle is the number of people or things that it can hold. If a place is filled to capacity , it is as full as it can possibly be.
increase dividends
A dividend is the part of a company's profits which is paid to people who have shares in the company.
increase security
Security refers to all the measures that are taken to protect a place, or to ensure that only people with permission enter it or leave it.
increase an amount
The amount of something is how much there is, or how much you have, need , or get .
increase contributions
A contribution is a sum of money that you give in order to help pay for something.
increase productivity
Productivity is the rate at which goods are produced.
on the increase
If something is on the increase , it is happening more often or becoming greater in number or intensity .
cost-of-living increase
a pay rise that is given because the cost of living has gone up
increase the chance of
If there is a chance of something happening , it is possible that it will happen .
population increases
The population of a country or area is all the people who live in it.
Chinese translation of 'increase'
increase
(nˈɪnkriːs; vbɪnˈkriːs)
n(c)
增长(長) (zēngzhǎng) (成, chéng)
⇒ a sharp increase in productivity生产率的急剧增长 (shēngchǎnlǜ de jíjù zēngzhǎng)
⇒ an increase of 2 per cent in the volume of sales销售量增长了百分之二 (xiāoshòuliàng zēngzhǎngle bǎi fēn zhī èr)
vi
[price, level, productivity]增长(長) (zēngzhǎng)
⇒ The population continues to increase.人口不断增长。 (Rénkǒu bùduàn zēngzhǎng.)
vt
[price, number, level]提高 (tígāo)
⇒ The company has increased the price of its cars.公司提高了汽车价格。 (Gōngsī tígāole qìchē jiàgé.)
a 5% increase, an increase of 5%百分之五的增长(長) (bǎi fēn zhī wǔ de zēngzhǎng)
a tax/price increase加税(稅)/价(價) (jiā shuì/jià)
to be on the increase在增加中 (zaì zhēngjiā zhōng)
to increase by 3%增长(長)了百分之三 (zēngzhǎngle bǎi fēn zhī sān)
All related terms of 'increase'
a tax/price increase
加税(稅)/价(價) jiā shuì/jià
to increase by 3%
增长(長)了百分之三 zēngzhǎngle bǎi fēn zhī sān
to be on the increase
在增加中 zaì zhēngjiā zhōng
to increase in frequency
频(頻)率增加 pínlǜ zēngjiā
to increase/tighten security
增加/加强(強)保安 zēngjiā/jiāqiáng bǎo'ān
a 5% increase, an increase of 5%
百分之五的增长(長) bǎi fēn zhī wǔ de zēngzhǎng
1 (verb)
Definition
to make or become greater in size, degree, or frequency
The company has increased the price of its cars.
Synonyms
raise
Two incidents in recent days have raised the level of concern.
extend
They have added three new products to extend their range.
boost
They need to take action to boost sales.
expand
We can expand the size of the image.
develop
They allowed me to develop their original idea.
advance
Rebel forces are advancing on the capital.
add to
strengthen
Community leaders want to strengthen controls at external frontiers.
enhance
They want to enhance their reputation abroad.
step up (informal)
widen
He had an operation to widen an artery in his heart.
prolong
He said foreign military aid was prolonging the war.
intensify
They are intensifying their efforts to secure the release of the hostages.
heighten
The move has heightened tension in the state.
elevate
Emotional stress can elevate blood pressure.
enlarge
plans to enlarge the park into a 30,000 all-seater stadium
multiply
inflate
Promotion can inflate a film's final cost.
magnify
The telescope magnifies images over 11 times.
amplify
The music was amplified with microphones.
augment
She was searching for a way to augment her income.
aggrandize
He would go on and on, showing off, aggrandizing himself.
upscale
Opposites
reduce
,
diminish
, decrease,
shrink
,
shorten
,
lessen
,
curtail
,
condense
,
deflate
,
abbreviate
,
abridge
2 (verb)
Definition
to make or become greater in size, degree, or frequency
The population continues to increase.
Synonyms
grow
We stop growing once we reach maturity.
develop
Children develop at different rates.
spread
The sense of fear is spreading in residential neighbourhoods.
mount
For several hours, tension mounted.
expand
Water expands as it freezes.
build up
swell
The human population swelled as migrants moved south.
wax
Portugal and Spain had vast empires which waxed and waned.
enlarge
The glands in the neck may enlarge.
escalate
Unions and management fear the dispute could escalate.
multiply
Her new job has multiplied the demands on her time.
fill out
get bigger
proliferate
Courses in creative writing have proliferated in recent years.
snowball
dilate
The pupils dilate to let in more light.
Opposites
decline
,
shrink
,
diminish
, decrease,
dwindle
,
lessen
,
abate
(noun)
Definition
the amount by which something increases
a sharp increase in productivity
Synonyms
growth
the unchecked growth of the country's population
rise
the prospect of another rise in interest rates
boost
The paper is enjoying a boost in circulation.
development
the development of the embryo
gain
House prices showed a gain of nearly 8% in June.
addition
This book is a worthy addition to the series.
expansion
the rapid expansion of private health insurance
extension
The agreement we have reached is a natural extension of our relationship.
heightening
proliferation
the proliferation of nuclear weapons
enlargement
There is insufficient space for the enlargement of the buildings.
escalation
a sudden escalation of unrest in the south-eastern region
upsurge
an upsurge in oil prices
upturn
There has been a modest upturn in most parts of the industry.
increment
Many teachers qualify for an annual increment.
bounce
intensification
the intensification of government protests
step-up (informal)
augmentation
the augmentation of the army
aggrandizement
phrase
See on the increase
Additional synonyms
in the sense of addition
Definition
a person or thing that is added
This book is a worthy addition to the series.
Synonyms
extra,
supplement,
complement,
adjunct,
increase,
gain,
bonus,
extension,
accessory,
additive,
appendix,
increment,
appendage,
addendum,
affix
in the sense of advance
Definition
to make progress
Rebel forces are advancing on the capital.
Synonyms
progress,
proceed,
go ahead,
move up,
come forward,
go forward,
press on,
gain ground,
make inroads,
make headway,
make your way,
cover ground,
make strides,
move onward
in the sense of aggrandize
Definition
to make greater in size, power, or rank
He would go on and on, showing off, aggrandizing himself.