Another word for increase
The best other words for increase are expand, raise, upswing and grow.
- Most formal
- expand, escalate, amplify
- Strongest
- soar, escalate, surge
- Casual
- go up, step up, jump
- Instead of “a sharp increase”
- sudden rise, big jump, rapid growth
Increase /ɪnˈkriːs/ (verb, noun): to become or make something larger in amount, number, or degree. In simple words: to become bigger or to make something bigger. Below are 18 rated synonyms across 3 senses, plus 29 more related words. Tap a chip for its nuance and an example.
21 synonyms shown
Grow in amount · verb
become more in size, number, or extent
Make larger · verb
cause something to become larger or more intense
A larger amount · noun
an amount of growth or rise
Find the right strength and register
Drag the amber target to how strong and how formal you need the word to be. The three closest synonyms light up.
You asked for: equal strength, neutral register
- grow — general, neutral increase with little emphasis
- rise — often used for numbers, prices, and levels
- expand — suggests spread or enlargement in scope
The dashed ring marks “increase” itself: neutral strength, neutral register.
Synonyms for increase in your sentence
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How to choose
Use increase when you want a neutral, widely applicable word. Choose more specific verbs like rise, boost, surge, or soar when the direction, cause, or force of the change matters; very formal writing often prefers rise or increase, while casual speech often uses go up.
Antonyms of increase
- decrease
- reduce
- decline
- drop
- lower
- fall
- shrink
- diminish
All synonyms at a glance
| Synonym | Strength | Formality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| grow | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| rise | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business |
| go up | 2/5 | casual | casual, business |
| expand | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| escalate | 4/5 | formal | academic, business |
| surge | 4/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative |
| soar | 5/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative |
| raise | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| boost | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| step up | 3/5 | casual | business, casual |
| amplify | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| heighten | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| intensify | 4/5 | formal | academic, business |
| multiply | 4/5 | formal | academic, business |
| growth | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business |
| gain | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| jump | 4/5 | casual | casual, business |
| upswing | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
Instead of “very increase”
One precise word usually beats an intensifier. See the full words instead of “very” list.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| a sharp increase | sudden rise, big jump, rapid growth |
| a slight increase | small rise, tiny gain, minor uptick |
| a gradual increase | slow rise, steady growth, little by little |
More words related to increase
Looser matches and phrases, unrated. Check the sense before you swap one in, or compare it with “increase”.
- enlarge
- add to
- lengthen
- extend
- widen
- deepen
- thicken
- augment
- make bigger
- make larger
- build up
- raise by
- advance
- climb
- multiply by
- magnify
- swell
- balloon
- spread
- proliferate
- amass
- accumulate
- pile up
- escalation
- enhancement
- addition
- expansion
- uplift
- augmentation
Questions about synonyms for increase
What is the most formal or academic synonym for increase?
In academic and business writing, increase itself is often the safest choice, with rise also very common for measurable changes. For a more technical tone, words like intensify or amplify fit only when you mean making something stronger, not just larger.
What is a stronger synonym for increase?
Soar and surge are stronger than increase; they suggest a fast or dramatic rise. Use them only when the change is genuinely large or sudden, or they will sound exaggerated.
What is a milder synonym for increase?
Grow and rise are milder, more neutral alternatives, and go up is the most casual. They work well when you want to describe a plain upward change without much emphasis.
What is a more professional word for increase?
In formal writing, people often use words like "augment," "expand," or "escalate," depending on the context. "Augment" is especially useful when you mean to make something larger or greater.
What is a simple word for increase?
A very simple word is "grow" or "rise," depending on whether something becomes bigger on its own or is made bigger. You can also say "go up" in everyday speech.