increase

¹in·crease

verb \in-ˈkrēs, ˈin-ˌ\

in·creasedin·creas·ing

Definition of INCREASE

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

— in·creas·able \-ˈkrē-sə-bəl, -ˌkrē-\ adjective

— in·creas·er noun

Examples of INCREASE

1. The house increased in value.
2. She increased her wealth substantially.

Origin of INCREASE

Middle English encresen, from Anglo-French encreistre, from Latin increscere, from in- + crescere to grow — more at crescent

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to INCREASE

Synonyms

accelerate, add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, build up, compound, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, hype, multiply, pump up, raise, swell, stoke, supersize, up

Antonyms

abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, minify, reduce, subtract (from)

Related Words

boom, jump, skyrocket, spike; bump (up), ratchet (up) also rachet (up); blow up, dilate, distend, inflate; draw out, elongate, flesh (out), lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch; develop, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify; complement, supplement; beef (up), reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; maximize; accumulate, amass, collect; follow up, parlay

Near Antonyms

abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten; compress, condense, constrict, contract; cut back, retrench

Synonym Discussion of INCREASE

increase, enlarge, augment, multiply mean to make or become greater. increase used intransitively implies progressive growth in size, amount, or intensity <his waistline increased with age>; used transitively it may imply simple not necessarily progressive addition <increased her landholdings>. enlarge implies expansion or extension that makes greater in size or capacity <enlarged the kitchen>. augment implies addition to what is already well grown or well developed <the inheritance augmented his fortune>. multiply implies increase in number by natural generation or by indefinite repetition of a process <with each attempt the problems multiplied>.

²in·crease

noun \ˈin-ˌkrēs, in-ˈ\

Definition of INCREASE

1

: the act or process of increasing: 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 (as offspring, produce, profit)

— on the increase

: becoming greater (as in size, number, or amount) : increasing <crime is on the increase>

Examples of INCREASE

1. an increase in life expectancy
2. The employees expect some increase in wages.
3. The construction will probably cause some increase in traffic delays.
4. The report showed increases of between 20 and 30 percent.
5. an increase of three dollars

First Known Use of INCREASE

14th century

Related to INCREASE

Synonyms

accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, expansion, gain, increment, more, plus, proliferation, raise, rise, step-up, supplement, uptick

Antonyms

abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, step-down

Related Words

accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering; complement; accession, appendix, continuation, extension, uptrend, upturn; jump, run-up, spike

Near Antonyms

deduction, subtraction