augment

verb

aug·ment | \ ȯg-ˈment

augmented; augmenting; augments

Definition of augment

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to make greater, more numerous, larger, or more intense The impact of the report was augmented by its timing.

2 : supplement She took a second job to augment her income.

3 grammar : to add an augment to (a verb form) (see augment entry 2)

intransitive verb

: to become augmented

augment

noun

aug·ment | \ ˈȯg-ˌment

Definition of augment (Entry 2 of 2)

grammar

: a vowel prefixed or a lengthening of the initial vowel to mark past time especially in Greek and Sanskrit verbs

Other Words from augment Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about augment

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for augment

Verb

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

Examples of augment in a Sentence

Verb

… a former member of Brunet's team, Jean-Renaud Boisserie of Berkeley, is in the Middle Awash seeking to augment the animal fossil record—particularly that of hippopotamuses. —Rex Dalton, Nature, 5 Jan. 2006 These reserve units will soon be augmented by full-time Maritime Safety and Security Teams. The first of these teams was formed on July 3; a dozen more are supposed to be created within the next three years. —David Helvarg, Popular Science, September 2002 The sale of its shares in such companies has helped augment its cash reserves from $1.7 billion to $2 billion. Call it a rainy-day fund—something that other dot-coms never had. But the move also suggests that even Yahoo has lost faith in the once boundless promise of Internet companies. —Brad Stone, Newsweek, 19 Mar. 2001 The money augmented his fortune. Heavy rains augmented the water supply.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Mental health care systems stand a better chance of meeting the needs of the 21st century not by just adding more psychiatrists, which would only augment how care has been provided in the past, but by fundamentally changing how care is provided. — Scott Breitinger, STAT, "3 ways to expand access to mental health care beyond adding more psychiatrists," 20 Apr. 2018 Money will be used to augment field trip costs for Lewerk's study about the Cold War. — Denise Coffey, Courant Community, "Killingly Teachers Receive FOLK Awards," 28 Mar. 2018 State lawmakers get a $50,400 salary, though that's augmented by daily payments of more than $200 to cover expenses. — Nathaniel Herz, Anchorage Daily News, "Alaska Democrats are having trouble finding someone to replace former Rep. Westlake. Here’s why.," 24 Jan. 2018 Rienzi has an annual budget of $1.5 million and Bayou Bend $4.6 million; each came with an endowment that is augmented by active fundraising. — Kyle Chayka, Town & Country, "Why Is It So Hard to Donate Your Mansion to a Museum?," 14 Oct. 2016 Italian-focused beverage program with low-ABV spritzes, vermouths and post-dinner amari and grappa; extensive Italian wine list augmented by small selection of French champagnes. — Mark Kurlyandchik, Detroit Free Press, "SheWolf is Michigan's only restaurant milling its own flour," 27 June 2018 In the early days of the league, officials said, some players delivered pizza at night to augment their meager wages. — Jeré Longman, New York Times, "Stuck in Soccer Limbo, in the Shadow of the World Cup," 2 July 2018 To augment the two Model 3 assembly lines already running inside his at-capacity factory in Fremont, California, Musk set up a third line. — Alex Davies, WIRED, "How Tesla Is Building Cars in Its Parking Lot," 22 June 2018 This is particularly concerning when the area is large or on the face, such as occurs with make-up tattooing to provide color to the eyes, or lip, or to augment the eyebrows. — Judy Schaechter, M.d., miamiherald, "Body art to be even more popular in future as kids emulate their tattooed parents," 29 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The Wharton economists, in turn, responded that other administrations have tried over decades to create airtight requirements that federal money augment, not replace, local spending, and that those efforts have routinely failed. — Michael Laris, Washington Post, "As Trump Cabinet secretaries head to Hill, big hurdles remain on infrastructure," 13 Mar. 2018 Contracts are a much more open-ended excuse to explore your environment than hunting skill points and augments in Dishonored 2. — Steven Strom, Ars Technica, "Dishonored: Death of the Outsider," 20 Sep. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'augment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.