Increase — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /in-ˈkrēs/ (verb) /ˈin-ˌkrēs/ (noun) in·crease

Meaning & Definition of Increase

Increase (verb)

  1. to become progressively greater (as in size, amount, number, or intensity)
  2. to multiply by the production of young
  3. to make greater, augment

Increase (noun)

  1. the act or process of increasing
  2. addition or enlargement in size, extent, or quantity
  3. propagation

Increase (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: accelerate, add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, build up, compound, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, hype, multiply, pump up, raise, swell, stoke, supersize, up
    related: boom, jump, skyrocket, spike, bump (up), ratchet (up), blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, draw out, elongate, flesh (out), lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch, develop, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify, complement, supplement, beef (up), reinforce, strengthen, maximize, accumulate, amass, collect, follow up, parlay
    opposite: abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, minify, reduce, subtract (from)
    near: abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten, compress, condense, constrict, contract, cut back, retrench

  2. to become greater in extent, volume, amount, or number

    "the number of Internet users increased exponentially during the 1990s"

    similar: accelerate, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon, climb, enlarge, escalate, expand, gain, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax
    related: jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge, heighten, intensify, redouble, blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up), crescendo, crest, peak
    opposite: contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane

Increase (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. something added (as by growth)

    "shortly after he turned 12, he had a sudden height increase"

    similar: accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, expansion, gain, increment, more, plus, proliferation, raise, rise, step-up, supplement, uptick
    related: accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering, complement, accession, appendix, continuation, extension, uptrend, upturn, jump, run-up, spike
    opposite: abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, step-down
    near: deduction, subtraction

  2. the act or process of becoming greater in number

    "the increase in the number of students enrolled at the school was very gradual"

    similar: accumulating, accumulation, addition, multiplication, mushrooming, proliferation
    related: doubling, quadrupling, tripling, creep, growth, rise, spread, enlargement, escalation, expansion, amplification, distension, inflation, accretion, accrual, augmentation, cumulation, extension, lengthening, boost, gain, hike, increment
    opposite: decrease
    near: abatement, compressing, compression, condensation, condensing, constricting, constriction, contracting, contraction, diminishing, diminishment, diminution, drop, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, shrinking, retrenching, retrenchment, shortening

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Increase

The most common words with a similar meaning to Increase:

accelerate, add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, build up, compound, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, hype, multiply, pump up, raise, swell, stoke, supersize, up, accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, burgeon, climb, gain, mount, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, wax, accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Increase

Words with the opposite meaning of Increase:

abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, minify, reduce, subtract (from), contract, recede, wane, abatement, decline, decrement, depletion, diminishment, diminution, drop-off, fall, falloff, lessening, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage, step-down

Related Words for Increase

jump, skyrocket, spike, bump (up), ratchet (up), blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, draw out, elongate, flesh (out), lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch, develop, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify, complement, beef (up), reinforce, strengthen, maximize, amass, collect, follow up, parlay

Near Antonyms of Increase

abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten, compress, condense, constrict, cut back, retrench, deduction, subtraction, compressing, compression, condensation, condensing, constricting, constriction, contracting, contraction, diminishing, drop, shrinking, retrenching, retrenchment, shortening

Word Forms of Increase

Inflections: increased, increasing

Derived words: increasable (adjective), increaser (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Increase

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

First known use: 14th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Increase

  • Topics: Common Actions / Verbs

Words & Phrases Containing Increase

on the increase

Frequently Asked Questions about Increase

What does "Increase" mean?

"Increase" means to become progressively greater (as in size, amount, number, or intensity). As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to become progressively greater (as in size, amount, number, or intensity). It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Increase"?

Other words for "Increase" include accelerate, add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, build up and compound. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Increase" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Increase"?

There are 113 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Increase". Common alternatives include accelerate, add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, build up, compound, enlarge and escalate.

What is the opposite of "Increase"?

Antonyms of "Increase" include abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen and lower. Near antonyms include abbreviate, abridge, curtail and shorten.

How do you use "Increase" in a sentence?

Examples of "Increase" in a sentence: "we have to increase the number of season-ticket holders if the local sports franchise is to survive"; "the number of Internet users increased exponentially during the 1990s"; "shortly after he turned 12, he had a sudden height increase".

Is "Increase" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Increase" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Increase"?

"Increase" is pronounced /in-ˈkrēs/ as a verb and /ˈin-ˌkrēs/ as a noun and divided into syllables as in·crease.

What is the origin of the word "Increase"?

"Increase" comes from Middle English encresen, from Anglo-French encreistre, from Latin increscere, from in- + crescere to grow crescent. First known use: 14th centuryi.