2 in·crease
Pronounced:
/ˈɪnˌkri:s/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural in·creas·esMeaning:
1 : the act of becoming larger or of making something larger or greater in size, amount, number, etc. [count] ▪ a tax increase ▪ population increases ▪ increases in sales ▪ an increase in life expectancy [noncount] ▪ The employees expect some increase in wages. ▪ The construction will probably cause some increase in traffic delays.
2 [count] : the amount by which something is made larger or greater ▪ The report showed increases of between 20 and 30 percent. ▪ an increase of three dollars —opposite decrease
2 [count] : the amount by which something is made larger or greater ▪ The report showed increases of between 20 and 30 percent. ▪ an increase of three dollars —opposite decrease
on the increase
: becoming more in size, amount, number, etc. : increasing ▪ The number of college applications is on the increase. [=on the rise]