From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishincreasein‧crease1 /ɪnˈkriːs/ ●●● S2 W1 verb [intransitive, transitive]INCREASE IN NUMBER OR AMOUNT if you increase something, or if it increases, it becomes bigger in amount, number, or degree OPP decrease, reduce The population increased dramatically in the first half of the century. political tensions that might increase the likelihood of war Visits to the site have increased threefold since May.increase in value/price/importance etc Investments are certain to increase in value.increase (something) by something Food prices increased by 10% in less than a year.increase (something) from/to something The salary is £18,600 a year, increasing to £23,000.RegisterIn everyday English, people usually say that an amount or level goes up rather than increases:The population has gone up a lot.Her investments all went up in value. —increasing adjective the increasing difficulty of finding trained staff European leaders watched events unfold with increasing alarm. —increased adjective an increased incidence of childhood leukaemiaGrammarIncrease belongs to a group of verbs where the same noun can be the subject of the verb or its object. • You can say: They increased the price of gas. In this sentence, ‘the price of gas’ is the object of increase.• You can say: The price of gas increased. In this sentence, ‘the price of gas’ is the subject of increase.THESAURUSto increaseincrease to become larger in number, amount, or degreeSales increased by 25%.The level of violence has increased.go up to increase. Go up is less formal than increase, and is the usual verb to use in everyday EnglishThe price of coffee has gone up.rise to increase. Rise sounds a little formal and is often used when talking about the level of something increasingThe demand for oil has been rising steadily.Living standards have risen dramatically.grow to increase, especially gradually over a period of time – used about numbers or amountsSince 1990, US imports of foreign goods have grown at a rate of 7.7% per year.The number of people working from home has grown substantially.escalate to increase to a high level – used about things that you do not want to increase such as costs, crimes, or violenceFuel prices are escalating.The fighting has escalated.double/triple to become twice as much or three times as muchSince 1950, the number of people dying from cancer has almost doubled.The company’s profits tripled last quarter.expand to become larger in size, or to include a wider range of activitiesThe business has expanded at a rate of 15% per year.We are hoping to expand into mobile phone services.soar to increase and reach a very high level – used about numbers and amounts, or about feelingsThe temperature soared to 36.6 degrees Centigrade.His confidence soared.The singer’s popularity has soared.shoot up to increase very quickly and suddenly – used about prices, numbers, or temperaturesShare prices shot up 30% over the last week.to make something increaseincrease to make something larger in number, amount, or degreeBeing overweight increases the risk of having a heart attack.We need to increase the number of police officers on the streets.put something up to increase prices, taxes etc. Put something up is less formal than increase, and is the usual verb to use in everyday EnglishThe landlord has put the rent up again.They’re always putting up gas prices.raise to increase something such as prices or taxes, or levels or standardsThe bank has raised interest rates for the third time this year.The school aims to raise students’ levels of achievement.double/triple to increase the amount of something so that it is twice or three times as largeThe airline plans to double the number of passengers it carries by 2015.High blood pressure triples the risk of strokes.boost to increase sales, profits, production etc, especially when they have been lower than you want them to beGrowing affluence has boosted sales.Oil exports boosted the economy.expand to increase something so that it contains a wider range of things, or to increase the size of a businessThe company plans to expand its retail operations.Supermarkets have expanded their ranges to include non-food items.extend to increase something such as your power or influence, or the number of things you are involved inWe are hoping to extend the range of services that we offer.The company plans to extend its dominance of the world car market.step up something to increase your efforts or activities, especially to change a situationSecurity has been stepped up following the bombing.Local people have stepped up their campaign to prevent a prison being built in their neighbourhood.heighten to increase a feeling or effectThe attack has heightened concerns about racism in schools.Hunger can heighten the effect that alcohol has on you.maximize to increase something as much as possibleBusinesses try to maximize efficiency and cut costs.To maximize the chances of a successful pregnancy, you should make sure that you eat well. → See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
increase• Gradually the noise and traffic increased as they approached the city.• Trade credit properly controlled can increase both your sales and your profits.• The price of cigarettes has increased by 30% in the last two years.• The cut in interest rates will help to increase confidence in the housing market.• Revenue and profits have increased dramatically this year.• Gate income won't exactly increase either over the remainder of what appears to be a relegation season.• The President's popularity has increased enormously in recent months.• Some analysts say the new law could increase expectations of an economic recovery.• Health care costs increased from £1.9 billion in 2000 to £4 billion in 2001.• Major league clubs have increased in number from 26 to 28.• The excitement is increasing inside the stadium as we wait for the teams to come out onto the field.• But there is no evidence, so far, that it plans to increase its total number of warheads.• The telephone company has had to increase its workforce by 10 percent.• The company has increased its workforce to 1,500 employees• a program to increase output by 14%• The government is increasing pressure on drug-traffickers.• Breeders can increase production by taking an egg away and putting it in an incubator to hatch.• Others, including Stead, attacked the bill for increasing the arbitrary power of the police on the streets.• The Clean Air Act would increase the cost of electric power in the Midwest.• The city plans to increase the number of public housing units.• The party aims to increase the number of women elected to Congress.• High alcohol consumption increases the risk of liver disease.• Women can not increase their fecundity by taking more mates; men can.• Hormone levels increase throughout pregnancy.• The number of high school students using LSD has increased to its highest level since 1986.• The imposition of martial law will only increase violence and repression.• The melting point increases with depth in the Earth because of the increasing pressure.increased dramatically• However, during the same time, expenses increased dramatically.• Two years ago, once-stagnant rents started to skyrocket, and the value of his duplex increased dramatically.• As they started to walk on that first day the temperature increased dramatically and continued to do so.• Revenues and profits increased dramatically, and Mega achieved its 1984 plan.• Fuel costs increased dramatically during the mid-1970s and have remained high ever since, and this adversely affects many old people.• But police activity has increased dramatically in the last week.• The numbers have increased dramatically recently: until 1977 fewer than 10 a year died but by 1988 it was 130.• Immigration increased dramatically, though to the countries they tried to immigrate, the wolf-men were as welcome as wolves usually are.increasein‧crease2 /ˈɪnkriːs/ ●●● S2 W1 noun [countable, uncountable] INCREASE IN ACTIVITY, FEELINGS ETCa rise in amount, number, or degree OPP decreaseincrease in an increase in the crime rate Recent tax increases have affected the poor more than the rich. the dramatic increase in the population aged over 65 There has been a marked increase in the use of firearms. Cases of tuberculosis are on the increase.COLLOCATIONSadjectivesbig/largeThe company has announced a big increase in its profits for last year.slight/smallDoctors have reported a slight increase in the number of deaths caused by the disease.The temperature increase was quite small.great (=big)There has been a great increase in air traffic in the last twenty years.huge/massive (=very big)There was a huge increase in emigration after the war.substantial/considerable formal (=quite big)He negotiated a substantial increase in pay for the workers.significant/marked (=definite and noticeable)Over the last few years, there has been a marked increase in tourism to developing countries.dramatic/sharp (=large and sudden)What has led to this dramatic increase in prices?rapid (=happening quickly)Recently there has been a rapid increase in fish farming.modest (=small)The figures reveal a modest increase in the birth rate.gradual (=happening slowly)Her temperature chart showed a gradual increase over the preceding six hours.steady (=happening slowly but continuously)The university has benefited from a steady increase in student numbers.a threefold/fourfold/fivefold etc increase (=an increase by three, four etc times)The figures show a threefold increase in incidents of car theft.a 10%/50% etc increaseA 5% increase in petrol prices is predicted.an annual increaseThe company reported a 10% increase in pre-tax profits.verbslead to an increaseThey argue that the abolition of the death penalty has led to an increase in the number of murders.cause/bring about an increaseThe heat wave brought about a massive increase in water consumption. NOUN + increasea price increaseWe expect a price increase of 1.4% this year.a fare increaseThe airline instituted a 10% fare increase.a wage/pay/salary increaseCanadian workers received a 5.4% wage increase.a tax increaseThe government had no choice but to impose a tax increase.phrasesbe on the increase (=be increasing)Knife attacks are on the increase.the rate of increaseThe rate of increase in the number of violent crimes is much higher than under the previous government. THESAURUSincrease noun [countable, uncountable] an occasion when the amount or number of something becomes biggerThere has been a significant increase in violent crime over the past year.price increasesgrowth noun [singular, uncountable] an increase in the number, size, or importance of something. Growth is also used when saying that a company or a country’s economy becomes more successfulThe astonishing growth of the Internet has had a dramatic effect on people’s lives.Japan experienced a period of rapid economic growth.Many people are concerned about the enormous growth in the world’s population.rise noun [countable] an increase in the amount of something, or in the standard or level of somethingThe latest figures show a sharp rise (=a sudden big rise) in unemployment in the region.There was a 34 percent rise in the number of armed robberies.The majority of families experienced a rise in living standards.surge noun [countable usually singular] a sudden increase in something such as profits, demand, or interestThere has been a big surge in demand for organically grown food.We have seen a tremendous surge of interest in Chinese medicine.gain noun [countable, uncountable] an increase in the amount or level of something – used especially in business or political contexts, or when talking about an increase in someone’s weightsales gainsThe December job figures show a net gain of 81,000 jobs.The party has experienced a gain in popularity.The amount of weight gain during pregnancy varies.hike noun [countable] informal especially American English a large or sudden increase in prices or taxes – often used in newspaper reportsDespite a 25% hike in fuel costs, the airline made a profit last year.tax hikeswage hikesa very big increaseexplosion noun [countable] a sudden very large increase in the amount or number of somethingThere has been an explosion in the number of fast food restaurants.The country experienced a population explosion.The book caused an explosion of interest in Renaissance Italy.boom noun [singular] a sudden large increase in trade, profits or sales, with the result that a country, company, or industry becomes very successful. Boom is also used about a sudden increase in interest in something, with the result that it becomes very popularthe German economic boom of the 1960sthe Internet boomThere has been a boom in sales of diet books and videos. Examples from the Corpus
increase• a 12% increase in phone charges• a 50% increase in the city's health budget• Improved airline service led to an 18.7% increase in tourists to Africa last year.• There was an increase of about 17% in the urban population between 1910 and 1920.• An increase in the traffic marked the end of a timetable period.• an increase in consumer spending• A spokesman for the airline said that much of the cost increase was caused by tightening of security.• There could be fare increases of up to 10%.• There has been a marked increase in opposition to military action.• Not all data on hip fractures show marked increases in winter.• There will be no increase in student enrolments this year.• Sure, there has been grumbling over the price increases, but more for sport than out of real pain.• Wilson had avoided nearly all tax increases since a record $ 7 billion hike to balance the budget in 1991.• Much of that increase was in the fee portion of student bills, which are set and retained by the individual colleges.• What is the reason for the increase in gang hostility in small towns?• The Government is also understood to be divided over whether the increase in base rates will provoke a recession.• Clearly Oswiu experienced a tremendous increase in personal power and prestige following his victory at the Winwaed.• Recent wage increases have boosted morale in the company.increase in• Investments in real estate are certain to increase in value.From Longman Business Dictionaryincreasein‧crease1 /ɪnˈkriːs/ verb1[intransitive] to become larger in amount, number, or degreeManufacturing output increased 0.6% in July.Sales increased to 11.5 million tons from 11 million tons.increase inThe yen is forecast to increase in value over the next year.The oil that it uses has increased in price to $13 a barrel.2[transitive] to make something larger in amount, number, or degreeThe rail company increased the number of passengers it carried last year by 14%.He has increased the number of his licensing agreements. —increasing adjective [only before a noun]There is increasing difficulty in finding trained staff.→ See Verb tableincreasein‧crease2 /ˈɪŋkriːs/ noun [countable, uncountable]1a rise in amount, number, or degreeincrease inThere was an increase in delays of deliveries of supplies.be on the increaseDemand for low-cost housing is on the increase (=is increasing).2pay/price/tax etc increase when an amount is increased by a company or governmentTobacco use in the state fell mostly because of the rise in the cost of cigarettes as a result of the tax increase.Origin increase1 (1300-1400) Old French encreistre, from Latin increscere, from crescere “to grow” 