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Showing results for increase. Search instead for Increase/8.
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.

The estimated 178,000 increase in new jobs last month came as a relief after a dismal February employment report.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

By one estimate, the change was projected to increase windblown dust by 40 to 80 tons per day.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

The drama is coming to the BBC as part of plans to tell "authentic Welsh stories", forming a wider push to increase representation across the UK.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Friday's data significantly beat analyst expectations, with economists polled by Dow Jones Newswires and the Wall Street Journal expecting an increase of 59,000 jobs.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

One study suggests that the entire increase in the prison population from 1980 to 2001 can be explained by sentencing policy changes.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.