Definitions

increase

[in-krees, in-krees] / ɪnˈkris, ˈɪn kris /

NOUN

addition, growth

Synonyms

STRONGEST

boost development escalation expansion gain hike increment inflation merger raise rise surge upsurge upturn

STRONG

access accession accretion accrual accumulation aggrandizement augmentation breakthrough burgeoning cumulation elaboration enlargement exaggeration extension incorporation intensification markup maximization multiplication optimization spread step-up swell swelling upgrade waxing

Antonyms

STRONGEST

decline decrease drop loss shrinkage

STRONG

abridgment compression reduction

WEAK

depletion diminishment subtraction

VERB

add or grow

Synonyms

STRONGEST

advance boost broaden build build up deepen develop double enhance enlarge escalate expand extend further heighten intensify multiply raise reinforce rise step up strengthen swell triple widen

STRONG

aggrandize aggravate amplify annex augment dilate distend exaggerate inflate lengthen magnify mount pad progress proliferate prolong protract pullulate redouble sharpen snowball spread supplement swarm teem thicken wax

WEAK

mark up slap on tack on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

abridge cease compress condense contract curtail decelerate decrease demolish destroy diminish discourage divide drop halt hinder hurt lessen lower narrow prevent raze recede reduce repress restrict shorten shrink slow stop take back undermine weaken

STRONG

abbreviate decline deflate degrade fall play down retreat

WEAK

deplete lose subtract

Usage

What are other ways to say increase? To increase means to make greater, as in quantity, extent, or degree: to increase someone's salary; to increase the velocity; to increase the (degree of) concentration. Enlarge means to make greater in size, extent, or range: to enlarge a building, a business, one's conceptions. Augment, a more formal word, means to make greater, especially by addition from the outside: to augment one's income (by doing extra work).

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Appeared in the May 14, 2026, print edition as 'Colorado Joins the Tax Increase Line'.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

"Increase slowly - if we suddenly make a dramatic change, our gut goes 'hang on a minute', and we can end up with bloating and constipation."

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2026

Increase in Black Friday retail sales from 2024, excluding autos, up from 2024’s 3.4%, Mastercard estimated.

From Barron's • Dec. 6, 2025

The practice has become so common that the industry gave it a name: Existing Customer Rate Increase, or ECRI.

From Slate • Jan. 8, 2025

Increase the swing of the pendulum, increase, increase, come up and bear against that point of furthest balance-increase-increase- "Heave!"

From "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding

increase

Usage

Example Sentences

Vocabulary lists containing increase

"Siberian Survivors" and "Tigers in the Wild"

Arithmetic, List 1

Unit 17, Lesson 2

increase

Usage

Example Sentences

Related Words

Vocabulary lists containing increase

"Siberian Survivors" and "Tigers in the Wild"

Arithmetic, List 1

Unit 17, Lesson 2