increases

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 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

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.

After a bright start on Saturday, cloud increases from the west with some rain in Northern Ireland and western areas of England and Wales.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

Schoolteachers, transportation workers, Indigenous people and other Bolivians have taken to the streets, calling for wage increases, economic stability and an end to the privatization of state-owned companies.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

Delta’s shares have gained 1.2% this year, despite increases in fuel costs stemming from the war in Iran pressuring shares of airline carriers.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

As Kevin Warsh got ready to begin his term as Federal Reserve chair on Friday, the bond market was already anticipating interest-rate increases by the central bank, as Joy Wiltermuth explained.

From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026

And why is the direction of time in which disorder increases the same as that in which the universe expands?

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking