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Definition of increase noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

increase

noun
 
/ˈɪŋkriːs/
 
/ˈɪŋkriːs/
[countable, uncountable]
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  1. a rise in the amount, number or value of something
    • price/tax/wage increases
    • Profits show a steady increase.
    • increase in something Last year the business saw a 3% increase in turnover.
    • a substantial increase in the number of products on the market
    • There has been a significant increase in oil prices.
    • The tax has resulted in a dramatic increase in rents.
    • increase of something an increase of 2p in the pound on income tax
    • increase on something The figure is a tenfold increase on the earlier amount.
    • increase of something on something This is an increase of 12% on the previous year.
    • increase over something This represents a 14% increase over last year.
    • increase from something They report a massive increase from last year.
    • on the increase Homelessness is on the increase (= increasing).
    • The rate of increase is accelerating.
    Language Bank increaseincreaseDescribing an increase
      • Student numbers in English language schools in this country increased from 66 000 in 2018 to just over 84 000 in 2019.
      • The number of students increased by almost 30 per cent compared with the previous year.
      • Student numbers shot up/increased dramatically in 2019.
      • The proportion of Spanish students rose sharply from 5 per cent in 2018 to 14 per cent in 2019.
      • There was a significant rise in student numbers in 2019.
      • The 2019 figure was 84 000, an increase of 28 per cent on the previous year.
      • The 2019 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
    Extra Examples
    • An increase in demand leads to an increase in price.
    • Sales of beef have experienced double-digit increases.
    • Some companies are predicting price increases of 30 per cent or more.
    • Intensive farming has brought about an increase in outbreaks of food poisoning.
    • Many parts of the country have experienced an increase in unemployment.
    • Their reputation has improved, with a corresponding increase in revenues.
    • The war resulted in a massive increase in government spending.
    • There has been an increase in demand for two-bedroom flats.
    • This year saw an increase in the number of job applicants.
    • The average increase in value last year was 4.3 per cent.
    • The company reported a 9.5 per cent increase in third-quarter losses.
    • We achieved a small increase in profits of £3 257.
    • You would expect to observe an increase in births during peacetime.
    • The country is enjoying the biggest increase in business confidence for years.
    • The government has announced a modest increase in welfare benefits.
    • The figures show a sharp increase on last year's turnover.
    Topics Change, cause and effecta2, Moneya2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • big
    • considerable
    • dramatic
    verb + increase
    • demonstrate
    • experience
    • see
    increase + verb
    • occur
    preposition
    • on the increase
    • increase in
    • increase on
    phrases
    • a rate of increase
    See full entry
    Word OriginMiddle English (formerly also as encrease): from Old French encreistre, from Latin increscere, from in- ‘into’ + crescere ‘grow’.
See increase in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee increase in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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