increment

noun

in·​cre·​ment ˈiŋ-krə-mənt 

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.

Synonyms

• increase
• gain
• boost
• addition

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

While the machine is in Standby mode (not making ice), the screen shows the current water temperature and the TDS reading, and has a Timed Start (timer) button with 10- to 90-minute increments and a custom setting. —PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2025

Establishment of a 'pay-as-you-go' tax increment district A bill from Rep. David Armstrong, R-Rice Lake, proposes creating residential tax increment districts, a financial tool that lets municipalities use future property tax growth to fund development. —Anna Kleiber, jsonline.com, 26 Sep. 2025

The designation can be granted by the Homeland Security secretary in 18-month increments. —Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025

Tax-increment financing, or TIF, is a tool that cities sometimes use to incentivize development in areas that might otherwise be too expensive to build on. —Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 17 Sep. 2025

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

Phrases Containing increment

• annual increment
• unearned increment

Kids Definition

increment

noun

in·​cre·​ment ˈiŋ-krə-mənt 

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- 

1

a

: something gained or added

the most common form of leukocytosis is that in which the increment is in the neutrophilic leukocytes

—W. 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

ˌiŋ-krə-ˈment-ᵊl, ˌin- 

adjective

incrementally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb