increase Hear it!

increase Definition

in·crease (in krēs′, in′krēs′; for n. in′krēs′, in krēs′)

intransitive verb -·creased′, -·creas′·ing

  1. to become greater in size, amount, degree, etc.; grow
  2. to become greater in numbers by producing offspring; multiply; propagate

Etymology: ME encresen < OFr encreistre < L increscere < in-, in, on + crescere, to grow: see crescent

transitive verb

to cause to become greater in size, amount, degree, etc.; add to; augment

noun

  1. an increasing or becoming increased; specif.,
    1. growth, enlargement, etc.
    2. Archaic multiplication, as of offspring
  2. the result or amount of an increasing a population increase of 10%

Etymology: ME encrese

increase Related Forms
in·creas′·able adjective in·creas′er noun
increase Idioms

on the increase

increasing

increase Synonyms

increase

n.

  1. Growth

    development, spread, enlargement, expansion, escalation, elaboration, optimization, burgeoning, swelling, addition, accession, incorporation, merger, inflation, appreciation, heightening, extension, dilation, multiplication, augmentation, rise, broadening, advance, gain, intensification, deepening, swell, amplification, progression, buildup, uptick, improvement, boost*, hike*, jump*, boom*; see also progress 1.

    Antonyms reduction*, decline, decrease.

  2. An addition

    increment, accession, accretion, raise; see addition 2.

on the increase

growing, developing, spreading; see increasing 1.

increase Synonyms

increase

v.

  1. To add to

    extend, enlarge, augment, expand, dilate, broaden, widen, thicken, deepen, heighten, build, lengthen, magnify, add on, multiply, escalate, let out, open out, further, mark up, sharpen, build up, raise, enhance, amplify, reinforce, supplement, annex, distend, swell, double, triple, stretch, intensify, exaggerate, blow up, aggravate, protract, prolong, aggrandize, redouble, boost*, raise the ante*, step up*, rev up*, jack up*; see also develop 1, improve 1, strengthen.

    Antonyms decrease*, reduce, abridge.

  2. To grow

    rise, progress, develop; see grow 1.

increase, the general word in this list, means to make or become greater in size, amount, degree, etc. to increase one's weight, one's power, debts, etc.; enlarge specifically implies a making or becoming greater in size, volume, extent, etc. to enlarge a house, a business, etc.; augment, a more formal word, generally implies increase by addition, often of something that is already of a considerable size, amount, etc. to augment one's income; multiply suggests increase in number, specif. by procreation rabbits multiply rapidly

increase Usage Examples

Object

  • number: A Bristol hospital is taking part in a pilot scheme to increase the number of organ donors in the UK.
  • awareness: Whilst this aims to increase awareness of criminal activity, the project also looks to reduce the fear of crime among young people.
  • risk: Heavy drinking combined with smoking increases the risks 15 times.
  • demand: Local GUM clinics are faced with increasing service demands of around 10 % a year.
  • amount: We need your support to increase the amount of essays we have in our archive of papers.
  • pressure: Consumption of more than about three alcoholic beverages per day appears to increase blood pressure.

Subject

  • %: Over the last decade, manufacturing output has increased by 3 %, six times the UK average.

Adjective modifier

  • significant: This could result in a significant increase in your disposable income each month.
  • dramatic: The cause for the dramatic increase seems to be the changed nature of warfare in Iraq.
  • substantial: There is wide anticipation in the industry of a substantial increase in the worldwide demand for exploration drilling over the coming year.
  • marked: The first quarter of 2004 saw a marked increase in new ADSL installations with a tail-off toward summer.
  • slight: Four regional tournaments took place over the summer with 40 clubs entering the competition, a slight increase on 2003.
  • steady: Now, after decades of steady increases, the number of bicycles on China's streets has begun to fall.

Noun used with modifier

  • cent: It has proposed a 21 per cent increase in the interim dividend per share.
  • %: In the first six months of 2001 alone, there was a 37.5 % increase in employe fraud cases passing through the criminal courts.
  • percentage: Figures are also given for the percentage increase over each authority's figure for 2004-05.

Preposition: in

  • number: Recent figures from the Land Registry show a massive increase in the number of houses sold for more than £ 1m.

Preposition: of

  • %: SCC Council Tax How do the County Council justify an increase of 16 % in Council Tax?

Preposition: by

  • %: Building of social housing is set to increase by 50 % over the next three years to 2008.
  • percent: The number of street children increased by 77 percent.
increase Quotes

One man's wage rise is another man's price increase.

—Wilson of Rievaulx, (James) Harold Wilson, Baron

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

—Bible (NewTestament)

He must increase, but I must decrease.

—Bible (NewTestament)

Official dignity tends to increase in inverse ratio to the importance of the country in which the office is held.

—Huxley, Aldous Leonard

The increase of riches and commerce in any one nation, instead of hurting, commonly promotes the riches and commerce of all its neighbours. 422

—Humboldt, Alexander, Baron von

We take it as a fundamental psychological rule of any modern community that, when its real income is increased, it will not increase its consumption by an 466 equal absolute amount.

—Keynes (of Tilton),John Maynard, 1st Baron

The natural price of labour is that price which is necessary to enable the labourers, one with another, to subsist and to perpetuate their race, without either increase or diminution.

—Ricardo, David