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.

Reports suggested the government was preparing to announce a £13.5bn increase, prompting concerns from defence officials.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

The central bank's 25 basis point hike this week followed a 50-point lift last month, and another increase is expected at its policy meeting next week.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

Less worrisome was a 0.3% increase in the cost of wholesale services in May.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

But even excluding food, energy and trade-services categories, wholesale prices were up by 0.8%, a rapid one-month increase.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

She looked up, while I still gazed at her: no start, no increase or failure of colour betrayed emotion, consciousness of guilt, or fear of detection.

From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

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