Increase

Pronunciation

• (verb) enPR: Ä­nkrÄ“s’, IPA: /ɪnˈkriːs/
• (noun) enPR: Ä­n'krÄ“s, IPA: /ˈɪnkriːs/
• Rhymes: -iːs
• Hyphenation: in + crease

Alternative forms

• encrease

Origin

From Middle English, from Anglo-Norman encreistre, from Old French, from Latin increscere ("increase"), present active infinitive of increscō, from in ("in, on") + crescō ("grow").

Full definition of increase

Verb

1. (intransitive, of a quantity) To become larger.
• Bible, Genesis vii. 17The waters increased and bare up the ark.
• ShakespeareThe heavens forbid
  But that our loves and comforts should increase,
  Even as our days do grow!
2. (transitive) To make (a quantity) larger.
• 2013, Fenella Saunders, Tiny Lenses See the Big Picture, The single-imaging optic of the mammalian eye offers some distinct visual advantages. Such lenses can take in photons from a wide range of angles, increasing light sensitivity. They also have high spatial resolution, resolving incoming images in minute detail.
3. To multiply by the production of young; to be fertile, fruitful, or prolific.
• Sir M. HaleFishes are more numerous of increasing than beasts or birds, as appears by their numerous spawn.
4. (astronomy) To become more nearly full; to show more of the surface; to wax.The Moon increases.

Synonyms

• (become larger) go up, grow, rise, soar (rapidly), shoot up (rapidly)
• (make larger) increment, raise, informal up

Antonyms

• (become larger) decrease, drop, fall, go down, plummet (rapidly), plunge (rapidly), reduce, shrink, sink
• (make larger) cut, decrease, decrement, lower, reduce

Derived terms

• increasable

Noun

1. An amount by which a quantity is increased.
• 2013, Philip J. Bushnell, Solvents, Ethanol, Car Crashes & Tolerance, Surprisingly, this analysis revealed that acute exposure to solvent vapors at concentrations below those associated with long-term effects appears to increase the risk of a fatal automobile accident. Furthermore, this increase in risk is comparable to the risk of death from leukemia after long-term exposure to benzene, another solvent, which has the well-known property of causing this type of cancer.
2. For a quantity, the act or process of becoming larger
3. (knitting) The creation of one or more new stitches; see Increase (knitting).

Synonyms

• (amount by which a quantity is increased) gain, increment, US, said of pay raise, rise

Antonyms

• (amount by which a quantity is increased) cut, decrease, decrement, drop, fall, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkage