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.

That's where the missing crewmember can, potentially, increase the odds of a safe rescue.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

The increase in the state pension age to 68 is currently legislated for 2044–46, although a review will consider whether to change those dates.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Kent Smetters, faculty director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model, said: “If you had a 1% increase over a full decade, you’re going to be talking about several trillion dollars.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The increase in hourly pay in the 12 months from March 2025 through March 2026 slowed to 3.5% — also a five-year low.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

George Washington was one of many surveyors whose work enabled them to increase their own landholdings.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

increase

Usage

Example Sentences

Related Words