BrE BrE//ˈɪŋkriːs//; NAmE NAmE//ˈɪŋkriːs//
[countable, uncountable] increase (in something) a rise in the amount, number or value of something an increase in spending an increase of 2p in the pound on income tax an increase of nearly 20% a significant/substantial increase in sales price/tax/wage increases Homelessness is on the increase (= increasing). Language BankincreaseDescribing an increase Student numbers in English language schools in this country increased from 66 000 in 2008 to just over 84 000 in 2009. The number of students increased by almost 30% compared with the previous year. Student numbers shot up/increased dramatically in 2009. The proportion of Spanish students rose sharply from 5% in 2008 to 14% in 2009. There was a significant rise in student numbers in 2009. The 2009 figure was 84 000, an increase of 28% on the previous year. The 2009 figure was 84 000, 28 per cent up on the previous year. As the chart shows, this can partly be explained by a dramatic increase in students from Spain. language bank at expect, fall, illustrate, proportion opposite decrease More Like This Pronunciation changes by part of speech abuse, alternate, advocate, approximate, contract, converse, convict, decrease, delegate, discount, duplicate, estimate, export, extract, graduate, import, intimate, moderate, object, permit, present, protest, record, refund, refuse, subject, suspect, survey, torment, upgradeSee worksheet. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivebig, considerable, dramatic, … verb + increasedemonstrate, experience, see, … increase + verboccur prepositionon the increase, increase in, increase on, … phrasesa rate of increase See full entry See related entries: Trends Word OriginMiddle English (formerly also as encrease): from Old French encreistre, from Latin increscere, from in- ‘into’ + crescere ‘grow’.Extra examples He proposed a large tax increase. Improved profitability may indicate an increase in competitiveness. Intensive farming has brought about an increase in outbreaks of food poisoning. Many parts of the country have experienced an increase in unemployment. Profits show a steady increase. Retirement planning often starts with projected cost-of-living increases. Sales of beef have experienced double-digit increases. Some companies are predicting price increases of 30% or more. The average increase in value last year was 4.3%. The company reported a 9.5% increase in third quarter losses. The country is enjoying the biggest increase in business confidence for years. The figures show a sharp increase on last year’s turnover. The measures to improve the health service will involve an increase in government spending. The pay rise represented an across-the-board increase of between 9% for the highest paid and 32% for the lowest paid worker. The war resulted in a massive increase in government spending. Their reputation has improved, bringing a corresponding increase in revenues. There has been an increase in demand for two-bedroom flats. This year saw an increase in the number of job applicants. We achieved a small increase in profits of £3 257. You would expect to observe an increase in births during peacetime. a dividend increase to 11.4 pence Homelessness is on the increase. The government has announced a modest increase in welfare benefits. There has been a steady increase in demand for the service.Check pronunciation: increase
