A2 verb Neutral #378 most common

increase

/ɪnˈkriːs/

To make something larger in amount, number, size, or degree, or to become larger in these ways. It is a versatile word used to describe growth or upward trends in various situations.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I need to increase the amount of water I drink every day to stay healthy.

I need to drink a larger amount of water every day to stay healthy.

2

The government aims to increase public awareness regarding environmental issues through education.

The government wants to make more people aware of environmental issues through education.

3

You should increase the heat on the stove if you want the water to boil faster.

You should turn up the heat on the stove to make the water boil more quickly.

Word Family

Noun
increase
Verb
increase
Adverb
increasingly
Adjective
increased
Related
increment
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Memory Tip

Think of the word 'Crescendo' in music, which means to get louder; 'increase' shares the same root meaning 'to grow'.

Quick Quiz

The company decided to ____ the price of coffee because the beans became more expensive.

Correct!

The correct answer is: increase

Examples

1

I need to increase the amount of water I drink every day to stay healthy.

everyday

I need to drink a larger amount of water every day to stay healthy.

2

The government aims to increase public awareness regarding environmental issues through education.

formal

The government wants to make more people aware of environmental issues through education.

3

You should increase the heat on the stove if you want the water to boil faster.

informal

You should turn up the heat on the stove to make the water boil more quickly.

4

Current data suggests that global temperatures will continue to increase over the next decade.

academic

Scientific data shows that world temperatures will keep going up over the next ten years.

5

Our primary goal for this fiscal year is to increase our total sales by fifteen percent.

business

Our main target for this year is to grow our total sales by fifteen percent.

Word Family

Noun
increase
Verb
increase
Adverb
increasingly
Adjective
increased
Related
increment

Common Collocations

increase significantly to grow by a large and important amount
increase steadily to grow at a constant and regular pace
increase the price to make something more expensive
increase rapidly to grow very quickly in a short time
increase in value to become worth more money

Common Phrases

on the increase

happening more often or becoming more common

increase by

to grow by a specific amount or percentage

increase from... to...

to move from a starting point to a higher end point

Often Confused With

increase vs raise

'Increase' can be used without an object (prices increase), while 'raise' always needs an object (they raised the prices).

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Usage Notes

As a verb, the stress is usually on the second syllable (in-CREASE). It can be used transitively (doing the action to something) or intransitively (the action happens on its own).

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often use 'increase' when they mean 'add to'. For example, say 'increase the speed' rather than 'increase more speed'.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'Crescendo' in music, which means to get louder; 'increase' shares the same root meaning 'to grow'.

📖

Word Origin

From the Latin 'increscere', where 'in-' means 'into' and 'crescere' means 'to grow'.

Grammar Patterns

increase in [something] increase by [amount] increase from [lower] to [higher]
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Cultural Context

In many Western business contexts, 'increase' (especially of profits or efficiency) is viewed as an essential marker of success.

Quick Quiz

The company decided to ____ the price of coffee because the beans became more expensive.

Correct!

The correct answer is: increase

Related Words

overcredant

C1

To accord excessive belief or trust to a statement, theory, or individual without sufficient verification. It describes the act of being overly ready to accept something as true, often disregarding critical analysis or conflicting evidence.

overmercery

C1

Relating to an excessive or obsessive focus on trade, commerce, and the buying or selling of goods. It describes a mindset where mercantile interests and the pursuit of commercial profit override social, ethical, or aesthetic considerations.

multihabacy

C1

To maintain a presence or existence across multiple habitats, environments, or distinct social spheres simultaneously. It describes the active process of adapting to and functioning within diverse physical or conceptual spaces.

foretheist

C1

To prefigure or establish a theological framework or belief in a deity before a main religious system becomes dominant. It is often used in academic contexts to describe the historical anticipation of a specific religious shift.

hyperultimness

C1

To reach or push a process, system, or state to its absolute final and most extreme limit of completion or perfection. It involves the deliberate act of maximizing every possible variable to achieve a definitive, ultimate result.

adnegation

C1

Adnegation is a formal term referring to the act of denial or refusal. It is most commonly used in legal, philosophical, or highly formal contexts to describe the rejection of a claim, request, or proposition.

synannous

C1

A botanical term used as a noun to refer to a plant species or specimen in which the leaves and flowers appear at the same time. It describes a specific phenological state where the vegetative and reproductive stages of a plant's annual cycle overlap perfectly.

unsumcide

C1

To intentionally dismantle a summary or total conclusion, often by breaking a consolidated result back down into its original disparate parts. It is typically used in analytical contexts to describe the invalidation or reversal of an aggregated data set.

innascible

C1

Describing something that cannot be born or has no beginning or origin. It is a highly specialized term used primarily in theology and philosophy to refer to uncreated or eternal beings.

nonanthropancy

C1

The state or quality of being non-human or the absence of human involvement, characteristics, and perspectives. It refers to entities, systems, or environments that exist or operate independently of human influence or anthropocentric values.

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