increase
A neutral, versatile term denoting growth or expansion. Unlike "surge" or "skyrocket," which imply suddenness and intensity, "increase" is the standard, clinical term for any upward movement in quantity or degree. In professional and academic contexts, it is the default choice for reporting data or trends. While generally positive (e.g., increasing profits), it can be negative depending on the object (e.g., increasing tension or increasing debt). When used as a verb, it focuses on the process of growth; as a noun, it focuses on the result or the gap between the old and new values.
Uncountable when discussing the general trend of growth ('There was a gradual increase in sales'). Countable when referring to specific, measured jumps or distinct increments ('The company announced three separate price increases this year').
💬Casual Conversation
Heard some pro players try to increase their 'game-sense' by watching replays.
Yeah, that's what I do. You just wanna watch me play.
Meanings
Collocations & Compounds
increase in
A rise in the amount or size of something.
There has been a significant increase in online sales.
increase by
The amount or percentage by which something has become larger.
The company reported an increase by 15% in profits.
increase rate
The speed or frequency at which something increases.
We need to monitor the increase rate of the population.
increase demand
A rise in the desire or need for a particular product or service.
The new smartphone has led to an increase demand for accessories.
increase production
A rise in the quantity of goods or services produced.
The factory plans to increase production to meet seasonal needs.
Phrasal Verbs
increase by
grow by a specific amount
The price increased by ten percent last month.
Etymology
The word 'increase' entered Middle English around the 14th century, derived from the Old French 'incresce' (meaning 'growth' or 'increase'), which itself came from the Latin verb 'increscere', meaning 'to grow larger'. This Latin verb is formed from 'in-' (meaning 'in' or 'on') and 'crescere' (meaning 'to grow'). The word's journey reflects a straightforward semantic development from the concept of physical growth to a broader application of becoming larger or more numerous in any context.