INCREASE

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does increase mean? 

• INCREASE (noun)
  The noun INCREASE has 5 senses:

1. a quantity that is added
2. a change resulting in an increase
3. a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important
4. the amount by which something increases
5. the act of increasing something

  Familiarity information: INCREASE used as a noun is common.

• INCREASE (verb)
  The verb INCREASE has 2 senses:

1. become bigger or greater in amount
2. make bigger or more

  Familiarity information: INCREASE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INCREASE (noun)

Sense 1

increase [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A quantity that is added

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

gain; increase; addition

Context examples:

there was an addition to property taxes this year / they recorded the cattle's gain in weight over a period of weeks

Hypernyms ("increase" is a kind of...):

indefinite quantity (an estimated quantity)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "increase"):

accretion (something contributing to growth or increase)

Sense 2

increase [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A change resulting in an increase

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Context example:

the increase is scheduled for next month

Hypernyms ("increase" is a kind of...):

alteration; change; modification (an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "increase"):

waxing (a gradual increase in magnitude or extent)

run-up; runup (a substantial increase over a relatively short period of time)

jump; leap (a sudden and decisive increase)

explosion (a sudden great increase)

concentration (increase in density)

augmentation (the amount by which something increases)

Antonym:

decrease (a change downward)

Sense 3

increase [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

A process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

Synonyms:

increment; increase; growth

Context examples:

the increase in unemployment / the growth of population

Hypernyms ("increase" is a kind of...):

physical process; process (a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "increase"):

relaxation ((physiology) the gradual lengthening of inactive muscle or muscle fibers)

pullulation (a rapid and abundant increase)

proliferation (a rapid increase in number (especially a rapid increase in the number of deadly weapons))

population growth (increase in the number of people who inhabit a territory or state)

multiplication (a multiplicative increase)

accretion ((astronomy) the formation of a celestial object by the effect of gravity pulling together surrounding objects and gases)

accretion ((biology) growth by addition as by the adhesion of parts or particles)

accretion ((geology) an increase in land resulting from alluvial deposits or waterborne sediment)

accretion; accumulation (an increase by natural growth or addition)

accession (a process of increasing by addition (as to a collection or group))

broadening; widening (an increase in width)

Antonym:

decrease (a process of becoming smaller or shorter)

Sense 4

increase [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The amount by which something increases

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

increment; increase

Context example:

they proposed an increase of 15 percent in the fare

Hypernyms ("increase" is a kind of...):

amount (how much of something is available)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "increase"):

up-tick (a small increase)

tax boost; tax hike; tax-increase (the amount by which taxes are increased)

supplement; supplementation (a quantity added (e.g. to make up for a deficiency))

boost; cost increase; hike; rise (an increase in cost)

hike; raise; rise; salary increase; wage hike; wage increase (the amount a salary is increased)

price increase (increase in price)

fare increase (increase in the sum charged for riding in a public conveyance)

complement (something added to complete or make perfect)

amplification; gain (the amount of increase in signal power or voltage or current expressed as the ratio of output to input)

Antonym:

decrease (the amount by which something decreases)

Sense 5

increase [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

The act of increasing something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

step-up; increase

Context example:

he gave me an increase in salary

Hypernyms ("increase" is a kind of...):

change of magnitude (the act of changing the amount or size of something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "increase"):

addition (the act of adding one thing to another)

split; split up; stock split (an increase in the number of outstanding shares of a corporation without changing the shareholders' equity)

intensification (the act of increasing the contrast of (a photographic film))

intensification (action that makes something stronger or more extreme)

strengthening (the act of increasing the strength of something)

aggrandisement; aggrandizement; elevation (the act of increasing the wealth or prestige or power or scope of something)

inclusion (the act of including)

accrual; accruement; accumulation (the act of accumulating)

expanding upon; expansion (adding information or detail)

exaggeration (the act of making something more noticeable than usual)

maximation; maximisation; maximization (the act of raising to the highest possible point or condition or position)

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)

Antonym:

decrease (the act of decreasing or reducing something)

• INCREASE (verb)

Sense 1

increase [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Become bigger or greater in amount

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

The amount of work increased

Hypernyms (to "increase" is one way to...):

change magnitude (change in size or magnitude)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "increase"):

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)

compound; deepen; heighten; intensify (make more intense, stronger, or more marked)

deepen; intensify (become more intense)

accrue (grow by addition)

spike (manifest a sharp increase)

add to (have an increased effect)

gain (increase in)

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)

swell (increase in size, magnitude, number, or intensity)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sentence example:

Their earnings increase this year

Antonym:

decrease (decrease in size, extent, or range)

Sense 2

increase [BACK TO TOP]

Meaning:

Make bigger or more

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context examples:

The boss finally increased her salary / The university increased the number of students it admitted

Hypernyms (to "increase" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "increase"):

kite (increase the amount (of a check) fraudulently)

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)

boost (give a boost to; be beneficial to)

escalate; intensify; step up (increase in extent or intensity)

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)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

They increase their earnings this year

Antonym:

decrease (make smaller)