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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.

By comparison, it expects the U.S. government’s deficit to widen to 7.5% of GDP from 6.8%, and its debts to increase to 125.8% of GDP from 123.9%.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

This represents an increase of 72% in possible credit losses as compared with the same quarter a year earlier, up from $2.37 billion in 2025.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

Infectious disease outbreaks drive up hospitalizations, increase the risk of long-term complications, strain health care systems and cost taxpayers.

From Salon • Apr. 22, 2026

"However, due to the increase in jet fuel prices, this will be achieved significantly more efficiently than before."

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

When I was reaching to increase a build, my hand brushed against his and I was taken aback by how dry and hot it was.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Vocabulary lists containing increase

"Siberian Survivors" and "Tigers in the Wild"

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Arithmetic, List 1

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"Glencoe Accounting: Real-World Applications & Connections," Vocabulary from Chapter 4

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