increase
//ɪnˈkɹiːs//
Forms
- present (v1)
- increase
- past (v2)
- increased
- past participle (v3)
- increased
- present participle
- increasing
- 3rd person singular
- increases
- Plural
- increases
Definitions
1.(of a quantity, etc.) To become larger or greater, to greaten.
- The waters increased and bare up the ark.
- His rage only increased when I told him of the lost money.
- The heavens forbid / But that our loves and comforts should increase, / Even as our days do grow!
2.To make (a quantity, etc.) larger.
- Drivers like the idea of increasing traffic flow and reducing congestion on the portion of I-80 between Davis and West Sacramento.
3.To multiply by the production of young; to be fertile, fruitful, or prolific.
- Fishes are infinitely more numerous of increasing than Beasts or Birds, as appears by the numerous Spawn.
4.To become more nearly full; to show more of the surface; to wax.
1.An amount by which a quantity is increased.
- An increase of about 30% in hits on the website.
- She says an increase in melting from climate change may put that at risk.
2.For a quantity, the act or process of becoming larger.
3.Offspring, progeny.
4.The creation of one or more new stitches; see Increase (knitting).
Frequency
Overall
Common· #701
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Common
- Academic
- Uncommon
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Word family
Etymology
From Middle English encresen, borrowed from Anglo-Norman encreistre, from Latin increscere (“to increase”), from in (“in, on”) + crescō (“grow”).
The noun is from Middle English encres, from the verb.