/ English Dictionary

INCREASE

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of increasing something

Example:

he gave me an increase in salary

Synonyms:

increase; step-up

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

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"):

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)

escalation (an increase to counteract a perceived discrepancy)

enlargement; expansion (the act of increasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope)

amplification ((electronics) the act of increasing voltage or power or current)

augmentation (the act of augmenting)

surge; upsurge (a sudden or abrupt strong increase)

appreciation (an increase in price or value)

advance; rise (increase in price or value)

addition (the act of adding one thing to another)

Antonym:

decrease (the act of decreasing or reducing something)

Derivation:

increase (make bigger or more)

increase (become bigger or greater in amount)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The amount by which something increases

Example:

they proposed an increase of 15 percent in the fare

Synonyms:

increase; increment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

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

amount (the relative magnitude of something with reference to a criterion)

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

up-tick (a small increase)

tax-increase; tax boost; tax hike (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)

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)

Derivation:

increase (make bigger or more)

increase (become bigger or greater in amount)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A change resulting in an increase

Example:

the increase is scheduled for next month

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

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"):

augmentation (the amount by which something increases)

concentration (increase in density)

explosion (a sudden great increase)

jump; leap (a sudden and decisive increase)

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

waxing (a gradual increase in magnitude or extent)

Antonym:

decrease (a change downward)

Derivation:

increase (make bigger or more)

increase (become bigger or greater in amount)

Sense 4

Meaning:

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

Example:

the growth of population

Synonyms:

growth; increase; increment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural processes

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"):

broadening; widening (an increase in width)

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))

Antonym:

decrease (a process of becoming smaller or shorter)

Derivation:

increase (make bigger or more)

increase (become bigger or greater in amount)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A quantity that is added

Example:

they recorded the cattle's gain in weight over a period of weeks

Synonyms:

addition; gain; increase

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

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)

Derivation:

increase (become bigger or greater in amount)

increase (make bigger or more)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make bigger or more

Example:

The university increased the number of students it admitted

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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)

broaden; extend; widen (extend in scope or range or area)

advance; boost; supercharge (increase or raise)

rev up; step up (speed up)

rev; rev up (increase the number of rotations per minute)

heighten; rise (become more extreme)

heighten (make more extreme; raise in quantity, degree, or intensity)

maximise; maximize (make as big or large as possible)

regenerate (amplify (an electron current) by causing part of the power in the output circuit to act upon the input circuit)

lengthen (make longer)

boost (give a boost to; be beneficial to)

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)

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

Sentence frames:

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

Sentence example:

They increase their earnings this year

Antonym:

decrease (make smaller)

Derivation:

increase (the act of increasing something)

increase (the amount by which something increases)

increase (a change resulting in an increase)

increase (a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important)

increase (a quantity that is added)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Become bigger or greater in amount

Example:

The amount of work increased

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

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

change magnitude (change in size or magnitude)

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

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

crescendo (grow louder)

full; wax (increase in phase)

climb; mount; rise; wax (go up or advance)

shoot up (rise dramatically)

broaden (become broader)

appreciate; apprise; apprize; revalue (gain in value)

widen (become broader or wider or more extensive)

pullulate (become abundant; increase rapidly)

grow (become larger, greater, or bigger; expand or gain)

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

deepen; intensify (become more intense)

add (make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of)

accumulate; amass; conglomerate; cumulate; gather; pile up (collect or gather)

snowball (increase or accumulate at a rapidly accelerating rate)

pyramid (increase rapidly and progressively step by step on a broad base)

explode; irrupt (increase rapidly and in an uncontrolled manner)

gain; gather (increase or develop)

add to (have an increased effect)

spike (manifest a sharp increase)

accrue (grow by addition)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sentence example:

Their earnings increase this year

Antonym:

decrease (decrease in size, extent, or range)

Derivation:

increase (the act of increasing something)

increase (the amount by which something increases)

increase (a change resulting in an increase)

increase (a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important)

increase (a quantity that is added)

Credits

 Context examples: 

‘But I was not satisfied, and the attempts which he made to draw me away increased my suspicions.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

An agonist of niacin receptors capable of mimicking niacin's ability to increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL).

(Acifran, NCI Thesaurus)

In bone, it decreases bone resorption and bone turnover and increases bone mineral density.

(Acolbifene hydrochloride, NCI Thesaurus)

White Fang watched the performance with increasing anxiety until he could contain himself no longer, when he sprang in front of the horse and barked savagely and warningly.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Combined or joined to increase in size or quantity or scope.

(Added, NCI Thesaurus)

The mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mtPTP) complex, which includes ANT, mediates sudden increase in inner mitochondrial membrane permeability common in apoptosis.

(Adenine Nucleotide Translocator-2, NCI Thesaurus)

People with all subtypes of MEN2 syndrome have an increased risk of medullary thyroid cancer, pheochromocytoma, and parathyroid gland cancer.

(MEN2 syndrome, NCI Dictionary)

People with all subtypes of MEN2 have an increased risk of medullary thyroid cancer, pheochromocytoma, and parathyroid gland cancer.

(MEN2, NCI Dictionary)

Frank Churchill's little inclination to exclude himself increased so much, that his last words to Emma were, Well;—if you wish me to stay and join the party, I will.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Saturn will urge you to save and make term investments to increase your security, such as to buy a house.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

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