increase

[v. in-krees; n. in-krees] /v. ɪnˈkris; n. ˈɪn kris/
verb (used with object), increased, increasing.
1.
to make greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality; augment; add to:
to increase taxes.
verb (used without object), increased, increasing.
2.
to become greater, as in number, size, strength, or quality:
Sales of automobiles increased last year.
3.
to multiply by propagation.
4.
to wax, as the moon.
noun
5.
growth or augmentation in numbers, size, strength, quality, etc.:
the increase of crime.
6.
the act or process of increasing.
7.
that by which something is increased.
8.
the result of increasing.
9.
produce of the earth.
10.
product; profit; interest.
11.
Obsolete.
  1. multiplication by propagation; production of offspring.
  2. offspring; progeny.
Origin
1275-1325; Middle English incresen, encresen < Anglo-French encres-, Middle French encreiss-, stem of encreistre < Latin incrēscere, equivalent to in- in-2 + crēscere to grow; see crescent
Related forms
increasable, adjective
increasedly
[in-kree-sid-lee] /ɪnˈkri sɪd li/ (Show IPA), adverb
nonincreasable, adjective
nonincrease, noun
preincrease, noun
preincrease, verb (used with object), preincreased, preincreasing.
proincrease, adjective
quasi-increased, adjective
reincrease, verb, reincreased, reincreasing, noun
superincrease, verb (used with object), superincreased, superincreasing.
superincrease, noun
unincreasable, adjective
unincreased, adjective
Synonyms
1. expand, extend, prolong. Increase, augment, enlarge may all mean to make larger. To increase means to make greater, as in quantity, extent, 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 ). 3. expand, grow, develop, swell. 6. enlargement, expansion.
Antonyms
1, 3. decrease.
Examples from the web for increase
  • We know that certain kinds of economic growth can increase income inequalities.
  • Both possibilities excluded in these projections-increased immigration and rapid wage growth-would increase the fund's revenues.
  • As temperatures increase, so do the water needs of your garden.
  • To increase your supply of plants, take root cuttings in fall.
  • Harvest leaves from the outside, leaving the center leaves to increase the clump.
  • It didn't take long to see an increase in the number and type of bees showing up.
  • The point is to increase mechanization and eliminate the need for workers to harvest bunch by bunch.
  • Then, over time, increase the depth of the water and decrease the frequency to encourage a deeper root system and stronger tree.
  • Melting glaciers and ice caps, along with ocean warming-water expands as it heats up-are the main culprits behind the increase.
  • Regular meditation may increase smarts and stave off aging, according to an ongoing study.
British Dictionary definitions for increase

increase

verb (ɪnˈkriːs)
1.
to make or become greater in size, degree, frequency, etc; grow or expand
noun (ˈɪnkriːs)
2.
the act of increasing; augmentation
3.
the amount by which something increases
4.
on the increase, increasing, esp becoming more frequent
Derived Forms
increasable, adjective
increasedly (ɪnˈkriːsɪdlɪ), increasingly, adverb
increaser, noun
Word Origin
C14: from Old French encreistre, from Latin incrēscere, from in-² + crēscere to grow
Word Origin and History for increase
v.

early 14c., "become greater in size or number; to cause to grow, enlarge," from Anglo-French encress-, Old French encreiss-, present participle stem of encreistre, from Latin increscere "to increase, to grow upon, grow over, swell, grow into," from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + crescere "to grow" (see crescent). Latin spelling restored 15c. Related: Increased; increasing.

n.

late 14c., "action of increasing; results of an increasing," from increase (v.).