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.

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

It’s a historic increase, not seen since the Korean War.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

US President Donald Trump has long signalled a desire to increase the defence budget and boost domestic defence manufacturing.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

The number of satellites lying 100 to 1,200 miles beyond the Earth’s surface is expected to increase from about 11,000 presently to roughly 130,000 by 2035, Stein noted.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

“The World’s Fair is, of course, of great interest to our readers. Have you seen an increase in meat sales since the Fair began?”

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

increase

Usage

Example Sentences

Related Words