increase

verb

in·​crease in-ˈkrēs  ˈin-ˌkrēs 

increased; increasing

intransitive verb

1

: to become progressively greater (as in size, amount, number, or intensity)

Sales increased this year.

The pain continued to increase.

2

: to multiply by the production of young

transitive verb

1

: to make greater : augment

increase the price

2

obsolete : enrich

increasable

in-ˈkrē-sə-bəl 

ˈin-ˌkrē-

adjective

increaser noun

Synonyms of increase

• expand
• boost
• augment
• raise
• multiply
• extend
• enhance

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of increase in a Sentence

The house increased in value.

She increased her wealth substantially.

Recent Examples on the Web

The recent strikes have increased the strain on the fragile truce between Washington and Tehran. —Dalia Abdelwahab, CNN Money, 7 June 2026

And with roots travel booming, the library’s visitor numbers increased by more than a third between 2022 and 2025. —Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026

Waiting until 70 increases the benefit by about 77% versus claiming at 62. —Jon Sabes, Fortune, 7 June 2026

This configuration reduces aerodynamic drag and overall weight, helping improve flight efficiency and potentially increasing engagement range compared with earlier designs. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 7 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing increase

• on the increase

Rhymes for increase

• apiece
• aris
• assise
• caprice
• cerise
• decease
• decrease
• eyepiece
• facepiece
• handpiece
• headpiece
• mouthpiece

Kids Definition

increase

1 of 2 verb

in·​crease in-ˈkrēs  ˈin-ˌkrēs 

increased; increasing

1

: to make or become greater

increase speed

skill increases with practice

2

: to become more numerous by the production of young

increase

2 of 2 noun

in·​crease ˈin-ˌkrēs  in-ˈkrēs 

1

: the act of increasing

2

: something added (as by growth)