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
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Recent Examples of increase
Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 12 July 2025
Graham famously forced a fumble on Tom Brady late in the game, which helped the Eagles increase their lead to the point where a field goal wouldn't cut it for New England on their final drive.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025
The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for increase
Verb
Russian drone and missile attacks have increased in recent days to levels unprecedented in the more-than-three-year conflict.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 12 July 2025
Graham famously forced a fumble on Tom Brady late in the game, which helped the Eagles increase their lead to the point where a field goal wouldn't cut it for New England on their final drive.
—Justin Grasso, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 July 2025
Noun
But unlike the British Open and its steady pay bumps, the U.S. Open has often paused raising prize money, with eight different instances since 2008 where there was no increase for the winner’s portion.
—Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025
The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for increase
Recent Examples of Synonyms for increase
Verb
-
Mari said the strike has now expanded to include Teamsters in California and Washington state, and that upwards of 4,000 union members are now in the midst of a work stoppage.—
Matthew Medsger,
Boston Herald,
14 July 2025
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Although the company is actively adapting—expanding into energy storage, changing billing models, and tweaking its supply chain—investors continue to be concerned about the pace and effectiveness of these strategic adjustments.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
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Sales rose 7% in the second quarter compared with Q2 2024 and 12% in 2025’s first half.—
Jackie Charniga,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
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Those are the three names president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski mentioned as rising to the occasion in the bullpen when asked earlier on Monday.—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
Dayton, a small community near Chattanooga, had lost a factory to bankruptcy and needed the boost.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
13 July 2025
-
Dig a hole that's as big and wide as the plant, amending with manure or organic compost to give it a nutritional boost.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 July 2025
Noun
-
But without a catalyst such as activist interest, M&A potential, or insider accumulation, the market has little reason to reprice the risk.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
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The Lions will need to find a way to cope with the absence of goalkeeper Pedro Gallese and captain Robin Jansson after both received yellow cards against Charlotte and are suspended due to yellow-card accumulation.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Choose solutions that augment human intelligence—leveraging AI, behavioral science and automation to unlock capacity, not just cut costs.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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This is the first of a new type of rideshare program flying to that orbit that augments SpaceX’s Transporter program that flies to SSO.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 July 2025
Verb
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Our graduates will now re-enter the market faster, prepared to hit the ground running and accelerate their careers.—
Ryan Anderson,
Arkansas Online,
20 July 2025
-
Starvation Much of Gaza has been reduced to a wasteland during more than 21 months of war and there are fears of accelerating starvation.—
Nidal al-Mughrabi,
USA Today,
20 July 2025
Noun
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The 2025 Emmy nominations delivered meaningful gains in representation across race, gender and identity, with a few concerning declines.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
15 July 2025
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Football presenters Alan Shearer and Mark Chapman both benefited from salary gains of at least £60,000 because of UEFA Euro 2024.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
Hallie Parker, the more mischievous and outgoing sister, was raised in Napa Valley, California, by her dad, Nick.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 July 2025
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Wells Fargo reiterates Microsoft as overweight Wells raised its price target on Microsoft to $600 per share from $585.—
Michael Bloom,
CNBC,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Increase.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/increase. Accessed 27 Jul. 2025.
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