1
as in to expand
to make greater in size, amount, or number
we have to increase the number of season-ticket holders if the local sports franchise is to survive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to rise
to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number
the number of Internet users increased exponentially during the 1990s
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in boost
something added (as by growth)
shortly after he turned 12, he had a sudden height increase
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accumulation
the act or process of becoming greater in number
the increase in the number of students enrolled at the school was very gradual
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of increase
Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
That increase has trickled into their produce, where Quintero Sanchez said every basket and box sold has increased $1.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
James Taylor, CBS News, 8 May 2026
The cost of crude oil, the main ingredient in gasoline, is driving much of the increase.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for increase
Verb
With summer on the horizon – when school is out and crime typically increases – police and officials have taken steps to crack down on large gatherings of teens.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
That increase has trickled into their produce, where Quintero Sanchez said every basket and box sold has increased $1.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2026
Noun
The city council is scheduled to discuss the fee increases at next Tuesday's meeting at City Hall.
—James Taylor, CBS News, 8 May 2026
The cost of crude oil, the main ingredient in gasoline, is driving much of the increase.
—Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for increase
Recent Examples of Synonyms for increase
Verb
-
There are numerous suites in the mix that expand upon the space, and anyone booking an executive category room enjoys access to the 25th-floor club lounge.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
-
Together, the movements reflected an apparent effort to insulate some of Iran's remaining military and aviation assets from the expanding conflict, even as officials publicly served as brokers for de-escalation.—
James LaPorta,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
As tensions rise between the United States and China over trade, technology, Taiwan and military influence, the relationship between the world’s two largest economies is increasingly shaping global politics and national security debates.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
15 May 2026
-
The national debt has surpassed the GDP, Social Security and Medicare face looming financial crises, inflation is rising, families are struggling — and yet Congress does nothing.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The faster spin resulted in a 30 percent boost in lift capability.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
-
The strange upside of high-profile rulings like Friday’s is a boost to Democratic messaging against the few swing-state centrist Republicans who are still clinging to House seats.—
Nicholas Wu,
semafor.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
The first of three games in seven days will begin without Bouanga, who is suspended for one match due to yellow card accumulation.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
10 May 2026
-
In practice, however, the process is often limited by the accumulation of volatile fatty acids, which decrease pH levels and suppress microbial activity.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Russia soon augmented its capabilities by acquiring Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 loitering munitions from Iran.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
-
Semafor’s journalists helped fill in the gaps by augmenting the readout with reporting that wasn’t captured in the transcript.—
Gina Chua,
semafor.com,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
The analytics group says that most Middle East cargoes loaded before the war have now been discharged, meaning the inventory drawdown will accelerate and local refining will slow.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
10 May 2026
-
The figure has really accelerated since 2017, though, driven in a large part by cost—to live a better quality of life at a lower cost and to have access to affordable healthcare and housing in later years.—
Alex Ledsom,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Russia’s bigger and better-equipped military has been making slow but steady gains along the more than 1,000-kilometer (over 600-mile) front line.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 May 2026
-
Russia's bigger and better-equipped military has been making slow but steady gains along the more than 1,000-kilometer (over 600-mile) front line.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
While snow totals remain uncertain, this storm is forecast to bring colder air and has a better chance of bringing more widespread and meaningful accumulating snow, particularly in the mountains and higher elevations.—
Alex Lehnert,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Increase.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/increase. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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