increment

noun

in·​cre·​ment ˈiŋ-krə-mənt How to pronounce increment (audio)
ˈin-
1
: the amount or degree by which something changes
especially : the amount of positive or negative change in the value of one or more of a set of variables
2
a
: one of a series of regular consecutive additions
b
: a minute increase in quantity
c
: something gained or added
3
: the action or process of increasing especially in quantity or value : enlargement

Did you know?

Increment is used in many technical fields, but also nontechnically. Incremental increases in drug dosages are used for experimental purposes. Incremental tax increases are easier to swallow than sudden large increases. Incremental changes of any kind may be hard to notice, but can be very significant in the long run. Rome wasn't built in a day, but was instead built up by increments from a couple of villages in the 10th century B.C. to the capital of the Mediterranean world in the 1st century A.D.

Examples of increment in a Sentence

They increased the dosage of the drug in small increments over a period of several weeks. Fines increase in increments of $10. The volume is adjustable in 10 equal increments.
Recent Examples on the Web Brookfield Properties owns Mayfair Mall, Wauwatosa owns the Boston Store property and Barrett Lo is the developer of a $400 million apartment community that will bring around 900 units to Mayfair and is financed by $58 million in Wauwatosa tax increment financing. Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel, 5 Mar. 2024 Essentially, bakeries can't sell loaves of bread that weigh less than 12 ounces, and they must be sold in increments of two ounces from there. Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 1 Mar. 2024 Under the approved tax increment financing, the city is selling bonds to pay for public infrastructure and be repaid by Baltimore Peninsula’s property taxes. Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore Sun, 15 Feb. 2024 On Wednesday, the council’s finance committee moved forward with terminating the city’s tax increment financing plan for the project, as well as the community improvement district, which would have collected a special sales tax on the site. Sarah Ritter, Kansas City Star, 8 Feb. 2024 These are the most public-facing steps taken by the West End Opportunity Partnership, a 21-seat public agency that has been tasked with overseeing the West End tax increment financing (TIF) district, since its inception in summer of 2021. Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 5 Feb. 2024 The Oklahoma City Council approved a record $200 million in tax increment financing to be paid after the first two apartment towers are built. Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2024 Instead of concentrating on achieving a six-figure income within weeks, define a realistic set of SMART goals, working in increments, and be patient with the process. Rachel Wells, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 The current cap would explain why Swift made her $100,000 donation in separate increments. Variety, NBC News, 16 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'increment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin incrementum, from increscere to increase

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of increment was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near increment

Cite this Entry

“Increment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/increment. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

increment

noun
in·​cre·​ment ˈiŋ-krə-mənt How to pronounce increment (audio)
ˈin-
1
: a growth especially in quantity or value : increase
2
a
: something gained or added
b
: one of a series of additions
incremental
ˌiŋ-krə-ˈment-ᵊl
ˌin-
adjective

Medical Definition

increment

noun
in·​cre·​ment ˈiŋ-krə-mənt, ˈin- How to pronounce increment (audio)
1
a
: something gained or added
the most common form of leukocytosis is that in which the increment is in the neutrophilic leukocytesW. A. D. Anderson
b
: one of a series of regular consecutive additions (as of growth or spread of disease)
2
: the amount or degree by which something changes
especially : the amount of positive or negative change in the value of one or more of a set of variables
incremental adjective
incrementally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on increment

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