increase

The noun increase indicates growth of something that gets bigger in number or volume. When used as a verb, it means the act of growing or gaining more. However it's used, it refers to something that has gotten bigger.

Anything that can add on can increase. You can increase your speed to go faster, increase your strength by working out, increase your knowledge by studying, and increase your circle of friends by meeting more people. You can work harder to see an increase of profits, and you can prevent an increase in your electric bill by turning out unnecessary lights. And now you’ve increased your vocabulary by learning a new word!

Definitions of increase
  1. noun
    a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important
    “the increase in unemployment”
    synonyms: growth, increment
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    Antonyms:
    decrease, decrement
    a process of becoming smaller or shorter
    types:
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    accession
    a process of increasing by addition (as to a collection or group)
    accretion, accumulation
    an increase by natural growth or addition
    accretion
    (geology) an increase in land resulting from alluvial deposits or waterborne sediment
    accretion
    (biology) growth by addition as by the adhesion of parts or particles
    accretion
    (astronomy) the formation of a celestial object by the effect of gravity pulling together surrounding objects and gases
    multiplication
    a multiplicative increase
    population growth
    increase in the number of people who inhabit a territory or state
    proliferation
    a rapid increase in number (especially a rapid increase in the number of deadly weapons)
    pullulation
    a rapid and abundant increase
    relaxation
    (physiology) the gradual lengthening of inactive muscle or muscle fibers
    broadening, widening
    an increase in width
    backup
    an accumulation caused by clogging or a stoppage
    buildup
    the result of the process of accumulation
    deposit, deposition
    the natural process of laying down a deposit of something
    doubling
    increase by a factor of two
    irruption
    a sudden sharp increase in the relative numbers of a population
    quadrupling
    increase by a factor of four
    quintupling
    increasing by a factor of five
    tripling
    increase by a factor of three
    type of:
    physical process, process
    a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states
  2. noun
    the act of increasing something
    “he gave me an increase in salary”
    synonyms: step-up
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    decrease, diminution, reduction, step-down
    the act of decreasing or reducing something
    types:
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    addition
    the act of adding one thing to another
    advance, rise
    increase in price or value
    appreciation
    an increase in price or value
    surge, upsurge
    a sudden or abrupt strong increase
    augmentation
    the act of augmenting
    amplification
    (electronics) the act of increasing voltage or power or current
    enlargement, expansion
    the act of increasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope
    escalation
    an increase to counteract a perceived discrepancy
    maximation, maximisation, maximization
    the act of raising to the highest possible point or condition or position
    exaggeration
    the act of making something more noticeable than usual
    expanding upon, expansion
    adding information or detail
    accrual, accruement, accumulation
    the act of accumulating
    inclusion
    the act of including
    aggrandisement, aggrandizement, elevation
    the act of increasing the wealth or prestige or power or scope of something
    fortification, strengthening
    the act of increasing the strength of something
    intensification
    action that makes something stronger or more extreme
    intensification
    the act of increasing the contrast of (a photographic film)
    split, split up, stock split
    an increase in the number of outstanding shares of a corporation without changing the shareholders' equity
    retrofit
    the act of adding a component or accessory to something that did not have it when it was manufactured
    fluoridation, fluoridisation, fluoridization
    the addition of a fluoride to the water supply (to prevent dental decay)
    dilatation, dilation
    the act of expanding an aperture
    distension, distention
    the act of expanding by pressure from within
    stretching
    act of expanding by lengthening or widening
    inflation
    the act of filling something with air
    magnification
    the act of expanding something in apparent size
    extension
    act of expanding in scope; making more widely available
    amplification, elaboration
    addition of extra material or illustration or clarifying detail
    annotating, annotation
    the act of adding notes
    subjoining, subjunction, supplementation
    the act of supplementing
    buildup
    the act of building up an accumulation
    incorporation
    including by incorporating
    ego trip, self-aggrandisement, self-aggrandizement
    an act undertaken to increase your own power and influence or to draw attention to your own importance
    roughness
    harsh or severe speech or behavior
    aggravation, exacerbation
    action that makes a problem or a disease (or its symptoms) worse
    concentration
    strengthening the concentration (as of a solute in a mixture) by removing diluting material
    focalisation, focalization, focusing
    the act of bringing into focus
    type of:
    change of magnitude
    the act of changing the amount or size of something
  3. noun
    a quantity that is added
    synonyms: addition, gain
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    types:
    accretion
    something contributing to growth or increase
    type of:
    indefinite quantity
    an estimated quantity
  4. noun
    the amount by which something increases
    “they proposed an increase of 15 percent in the fare”
    synonyms: increment
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    decrease, decrement
    the amount by which something decreases
    types:
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    amplification, gain
    the amount of increase in signal power or voltage or current expressed as the ratio of output to input
    fare increase
    increase in the sum charged for riding in a public conveyance
    price increase
    increase in price
    hike, raise, rise, salary increase, wage hike, wage increase
    the amount a salary is increased
    boost, cost increase, hike, rise
    an increase in cost
    supplement, supplementation
    a quantity added (e.g. to make up for a deficiency)
    tax boost, tax hike, tax-increase
    the amount by which taxes are increased
    up-tick
    a small increase
    loop gain
    (telecommunication) the gain of a feedback amplifier or system as a function of how much output is fed back to the input
    type of:
    amount
    the relative magnitude of something with reference to a criterion
  5. noun
    a change resulting in an increase
    “the increase is scheduled for next month”
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    decrease, drop-off, lessening
    a change downward
    types:
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    augmentation
    the amount by which something increases
    concentration
    an increase in density
    explosion
    a sudden great increase
    jump, leap
    a sudden and decisive increase
    run-up, runup
    a substantial increase over a relatively short period of time
    waxing
    a gradual increase in magnitude or extent
    quantum jump, quantum leap
    a sudden large increase or advance
    compaction, compression, concretion, densification
    an increase in the density of something
    rarefaction
    a decrease in the density of something
    type of:
    alteration, change, modification
    an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
  6. verb
    become bigger or greater in amount
    “The amount of work increased”
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    decrease, diminish, fall, lessen
    decrease in size, extent, or range
    types:
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    accrue
    grow by addition
    spike
    manifest a sharp increase
    add to
    have an increased effect
    gain, gather
    increase or develop
    explode, irrupt
    increase rapidly and in an uncontrolled manner
    pyramid
    increase rapidly and progressively step by step on a broad base
    snowball
    increase or accumulate at a rapidly accelerating rate
    accumulate, amass, conglomerate, cumulate, gather, pile up
    collect or gather
    add
    make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
    deepen, intensify
    become more intense
    compound, deepen, heighten, intensify
    make more intense, stronger, or more marked
    grow
    become larger, greater, or bigger; expand or gain
    pullulate
    become abundant; increase rapidly
    widen
    become broader or wider or more extensive
    appreciate, apprise, apprize, revalue
    gain in value
    broaden
    become broader
    shoot up
    rise dramatically
    climb, mount, rise, wax
    go up or advance
    full, wax
    increase in phase
    crescendo
    grow louder
    swell
    increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity
    hypertrophy
    undergo hypertrophy
    climb, go up, rise
    increase in value or to a higher point
    jump
    increase suddenly and significantly
    redound
    contribute
    enlarge
    become larger or bigger
    augment
    grow or intensify
    advance, gain
    rise in rate or price
    backlog
    accumulate and create a backlog
    accrete
    grow or become attached by accretion
    modify, qualify
    add a modifier to a constituent
    gild the lily, paint the lily
    make unnecessary additions to what is already complete
    adjoin
    attach or add
    work in
    add by mixing or blending on or attaching
    add on
    make an addition
    include
    add as part of something else; put in as part of a set, group, or category
    mix, mix in
    add as an additional element or part
    put on
    add to something existing
    butylate
    introduce the butyl group into a chemical compound
    put on
    add to the odometer
    inject
    to introduce (a new aspect or element)
    welt
    put a welt on
    intercalate
    insert (days) in a calendar
    mark, punctuate
    insert punctuation marks into
    concatenate
    add by linking or joining so as to form a chain or series
    string, string up
    add as if on a string
    combine, compound
    put or add together
    milk
    add milk to
    fortify
    add nutrients to
    build
    develop and grow
    redouble
    make twice as great or intense
    heat up, hot up, screw up
    make more intense
    fan
    make (an emotion) fiercer
    enhance, heighten, raise
    increase
    vegetate
    grow or spread abnormally
    mushroom
    grow and spread fast
    grow over, overgrow
    grow beyond or across
    stretch
    become longer by being stretched and pulled
    develop
    grow, progress, unfold, or evolve through a process of evolution, natural growth, differentiation, or a conducive environment
    expand
    become larger in size or volume or quantity
    amplify
    increase the volume of
    flare, flare out
    become flared and widen, usually at one end
    dilate, distend
    become wider
    break open, burst out, erupt, flare, flare up, irrupt
    erupt or intensify suddenly
    boom, expand, flourish, thrive
    grow vigorously
    proliferate
    grow rapidly
    elongate, lengthen
    become long or longer
    branch, ramify
    grow and send out branches or branch-like structures
    burgeon
    grow and flourish
    root
    take root and begin to grow
    condense
    become more compact or concentrated
    sharpen
    become sharp or sharper
    sharpen
    make crisp or more crisp and precise
    heighten, sharpen
    make (one's senses) more acute
    accelerate, quicken, speed, speed up
    move faster
    drift
    be piled up in banks or heaps by the force of wind or a current
    stud
    provide with or construct with studs
    button
    provide with buttons
    prove, rise
    increase in volume
    expand, spread out
    extend in one or more directions
    enrich
    make wealthy or richer
    supplement
    add as a supplement to what seems insufficient
    type of:
    change magnitude
    change in size or magnitude
  7. verb
    make bigger or more
    “The boss finally increased her salary”
    “The university increased the number of students it admitted”
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    decrease, lessen, minify
    make smaller
    types:
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    extend, stretch
    increase in quantity or bulk by adding a cheaper substance
    augment
    enlarge or increase
    build up
    enlarge, develop, or increase by degrees or in stages
    enlarge
    make larger
    up
    raise
    raise
    raise the level or amount of something
    blow up, enlarge, magnify
    make large
    manifold, multiply
    combine or increase by multiplication
    build, build up, ramp up, work up
    bolster or strengthen
    amplify, blow up, expand, inflate
    exaggerate or make bigger
    escalate, intensify, step up
    increase in extent or intensity
    boost
    give a boost to; be beneficial to
    elongate, lengthen
    make longer
    regenerate
    amplify (an electron current) by causing part of the power in the output circuit to act upon the input circuit
    maximise, maximize
    make as big or large as possible
    heighten
    make more extreme; raise in quantity, degree, or intensity
    heighten, rise
    become more extreme
    rev, rev up
    increase the number of rotations per minute
    rev up, step up
    speed up
    advance, boost, supercharge
    increase or raise
    broaden, extend, widen
    extend in scope or range or area
    kite
    increase the amount (of a check) fraudulently
    bump up
    increase or raise
    double, duplicate
    increase twofold
    treble, triple
    increase threefold
    quadruple
    increase fourfold
    quintuple
    increase fivefold
    proliferate
    cause to grow or increase rapidly
    puff up
    make larger or distend
    redouble
    double in magnitude, extent, or intensity
    broaden
    make broader
    draw out, extend, prolong, protract
    lengthen in time; cause to be or last longer
    elongate, stretch
    make long or longer by pulling and stretching
    territorialise, territorialize
    extend by adding territory
    globalise, globalize
    make world-wide in scope or application
    expand
    make bigger or wider in size, volume, or quantity
    ream
    enlarge with a reamer
    stretch
    extend the scope or meaning of; often unduly
    deepen
    make deeper
    type of:
    alter, change, modify
    cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
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