verb , noun
■ verb
/ ɪnˈkriːs; NAmE / increase (sth) (from A) (to B) | increase (sth) (by sth) to become or to make sth greater in amount, number, value, etc. :
[ v ]
The population has increased from 1.2 million to 1.8 million.
The rate of inflation increased by 2%.
The price of oil increased.
increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the earth's atmosphere
Oil increased in price .
Disability increases with age (= the older sb is, the more likely they are to be disabled) .
[ vn ]
We need to increase productivity.
They've increased the price by 50%.
OPP decrease
► in·creased adjective [ only before noun ]:
increased demand
■ noun
/ ˈɪŋkriːs/ [ C , U ] ~ (in sth) a rise in the amount, number or value of sth :
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) .
OPP decrease
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (formerly also as encrease ): from Old French encreistre , from Latin increscere , from in- into + crescere grow.