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- Do you ever wonder if you’re using “increase” correctly in every sentence?
- Are you unsure which words naturally pair with “increase” to sound like a native speaker?
- Do you want to avoid common mistakes and express yourself with greater precision and impact?
Mastering English collocations is a cornerstone of fluency. These natural word partnerships don’t just make your English sound more authentic; they also enhance your comprehension and allow you to communicate complex ideas with greater clarity and conciseness. For a word like “increase,” which is fundamental in discussing growth, change, and development across various fields, knowing its collocations is indispensable for both academic and professional success. Let’s dive deep into the world of “increase” and unlock its power!
Common Collocations with INCREASE as a Verb
As a verb, ‘increase’ means to become or make something greater in amount, number, size, or intensity. It can be used both transitively (e.g., The company increased its profits) and intransitively (e.g., Profits increased steadily).
Adverbs that Modify INCREASE
These adverbs describe the manner or speed of the increase.
- Increase dramatically/significantly/substantially: To grow by a very large amount.
- Example: The company’s market share increased dramatically after the new product launch.
- Example: We need to increase significantly our efforts to meet the deadline.
- Increase steadily/gradually: To grow slowly and consistently over time.
- Example: Customer satisfaction scores have been increasing steadily over the past year.
- Example: The temperature will increase gradually throughout the afternoon.
- Increase rapidly/sharply/quickly: To grow at a fast pace.
- Example: The demand for electric vehicles has increased rapidly in recent years.
- Example: Energy prices are expected to increase sharply next quarter.
- Increase slightly/marginally: To grow by a small amount.
- Example: The unemployment rate increased slightly last month.
- Example: Our budget will increase marginally for the next fiscal year.
- Increase consistently: To grow regularly and without stopping.
- Example: Their sales figures have increased consistently for five consecutive quarters.
- Increase exponentially: To grow at an increasingly rapid rate.
- Example: The data storage needs of the organization increased exponentially with new projects.
Nouns that INCREASE (Subject Collocations)
These are common subjects that ‘increase’.
- Prices/Costs increase: Money spent on something goes up.
- Example: The cost of living continues to increase across major cities.
- Example: Fuel prices increased by 10% overnight.
- Demand/Supply increases: The desire for a product/service or its availability goes up.
- Example: As the population grows, the demand for housing will continue to increase.
- Example: With new farming techniques, the supply of fresh produce is expected to increase.
- Rates/Levels increase: The measurement of quantity, frequency, or degree goes up.
- Example: Interest rates increased again last month, impacting mortgage payments.
- Example: The noise level increased as the concert began.
- Population/Numbers increase: The total count of people or items goes up.
- Example: The global population increased by over 70 million last year.
- Example: The number of registered users increased significantly.
Nouns that are INCREASED (Object Collocations)
These are common objects of the verb ‘increase’.
- Increase awareness: To make more people know about something.
- Example: The campaign aims to increase awareness about mental health issues.
- Increase efficiency/productivity: To make a process more effective or output greater.
- Example: Implementing new software will help us increase efficiency in our workflow.
- Example: Flexible working hours can increase productivity among employees.
- Increase profits/revenue/sales: To make more money from business activities.
- Example: Our main goal is to increase profits by reducing operational costs.
- Example: The new marketing strategy is designed to increase sales.
- Increase capacity/output: To expand the ability to produce or hold something.
- Example: The factory needs to increase its production capacity to meet demand.
- Example: We are working to increase the output of our renewable energy plants.
- Increase the risk of: To make something dangerous or undesirable more likely.
- Example: Lack of exercise can increase the risk of heart disease.
Essential Collocations using INCREASE as a Noun
As a noun, ‘increase’ refers to the act of becoming greater or the amount by which something has become greater. It is often preceded by an article (an/the) and followed by a preposition.
Adjectives that Describe an INCREASE
These adjectives specify the nature or scale of the increase.
- A significant/substantial/dramatic increase: A very large or striking rise.
- Example: The company reported a significant increase in quarterly earnings.
- Example: There has been a dramatic increase in online shopping.
- A slight/modest/marginal increase: A small or moderate rise.
- Example: We observed only a slight increase in registrations this month.
- Example: Experts predict a modest increase in property values next year.
- A steady/gradual increase: A slow and consistent rise.
- Example: The data shows a steady increase in average temperatures over the last century.
- Example: The project saw a gradual increase in complexity as it progressed.
- A rapid/sharp increase: A fast rise.
- Example: The sudden policy change led to a rapid increase in food prices.
- Example: There was a sharp increase in traffic during rush hour.
- An unprecedented increase: A rise that has never happened before.
- Example: The pandemic caused an unprecedented increase in remote work arrangements.
Verbs that Precede an INCREASE (Experiencing an increase)
These verbs describe how an increase comes about or is observed.
- Experience/See/Witness an increase: To observe or undergo a rise.
- Example: Many countries are experiencing an increase in their elderly population.
- Example: We have seen a noticeable increase in customer complaints recently.
- Show/Report an increase: To indicate or officially state a rise.
- Example: The latest figures show an increase in renewable energy consumption.
- Example: The quarterly report will report an increase in revenue.
- Lead to/Result in an increase: To cause a rise.
- Example: The new marketing campaign is expected to lead to an increase in sales.
- Example: The recent policy changes could result in an increase in inflation.
Prepositions Used with an INCREASE
These prepositions clarify what is increasing or by how much.
- An increase in: Used to specify what is growing.
- Example: There’s been a clear increase in demand for organic products.
- Example: The city saw an increase in violent crime last year.
- An increase of: Used to specify the exact amount or percentage of growth.
- Example: The company announced an increase of 5% in its annual dividend.
- Example: There was an increase of 200 new members this month.
- An increase by: Often used with a percentage or a specific number to show the change. (Less common than ‘of’ for the amount, but still valid, especially with percentages).
- Example: We anticipate an increase by 15% in overall production.
- Example: The budget proposal suggests an increase by $1 million for infrastructure.
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| increase dramatically | Verb + Adverb | Grow by a very large amount |
| increase steadily | Verb + Adverb | Grow slowly and consistently |
| increase awareness | Verb + Noun | Make more people know |
| increase productivity | Verb + Noun | Make output greater |
| increase the risk of | Verb + Noun Phrase | Make something dangerous more likely |
| a significant increase | Adjective + Noun | A very large rise |
| a gradual increase | Adjective + Noun | A slow and consistent rise |
| experience an increase | Verb + Noun | Observe or undergo a rise |
| lead to an increase | Verb + Noun | Cause a rise |
| an increase in demand | Noun + Prepositional Phrase | More desire for something |
| an increase of 10% | Noun + Prepositional Phrase | A rise by 10% |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
One of the biggest hurdles for English learners is making their language sound natural. Direct translation often leads to unnatural-sounding phrases. Here’s how to avoid common pitfalls with ‘increase’.
| Do Not Say | Say This (Native Usage) |
|---|---|
| We need to *make increase* the sales. | We need to increase sales. |
| There was a *big increase* in traffic. | There was a significant increase in traffic. (or sharp increase) |
| The company *got an increase* in profits. | The company saw an increase in profits. (or reported an increase) |
| The temperature *increased at a high speed*. | The temperature increased rapidly. |
| This will *do an increase* in risk. | This will increase the risk. (or lead to an increase in risk) |
Subject: Project X Progress Update
Hi Team,
I’m pleased to report that our recent initiatives have begun to yield positive results. We’ve seen a significant increase in user engagement on the platform, and the new onboarding process has helped to increase efficiency within the support team. Looking ahead, our primary goal for the next quarter is to increase awareness of our premium features, which we believe will lead to a substantial increase in subscriptions. We are also monitoring the market, as current trends suggest that demand for our services could increase sharply in the coming months. Let’s continue this momentum and work towards an even greater increase in productivity.
Best regards,
Sarah Chen
Frequently Asked Questions about Increase Collocations
What prepositions are commonly used with ‘increase’ (noun and verb)?
When ‘increase’ is a verb, we often use ‘by’ to show the amount of change (e.g., Profits increased by 10%) and ‘to’ to show the new level (e.g., Profits increased to $1 million). For ‘increase’ as a noun, ‘in’ specifies what is increasing (e.g., an increase in demand) and ‘of’ denotes the size of the increase (e.g., an increase of 5%). ‘By’ can also be used with the noun for the amount (e.g., an increase by 15%).
Can ‘increase’ be used with both countable and uncountable nouns?
Yes, ‘increase’ can be used with both. For example, with countable nouns: “The number of students increased.” With uncountable nouns: “There was an increase in water pressure.” Similarly, as a noun: “an increase in crimes” (countable) or “an increase in revenue” (uncountable).
What’s the difference between “increase” and “grow”? Are they interchangeable?
While often similar in meaning, ‘increase’ typically refers to a rise in quantity, size, or degree, often numerical or measurable (e.g., The price increased.). ‘Grow’ can also mean to get bigger, but it frequently implies a more organic, developmental, or natural process, especially in living things (e.g., The plant grew.). In business, ‘grow’ can be used for general expansion (e.g., The company grew), while ‘increase’ might be used for specific metrics (e.g., The company increased its profits). They are not always interchangeable, especially in more formal or precise contexts.
Are there any situations where “increase” can sound too formal or informal?
‘Increase’ is generally a neutral and versatile word suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in very casual speech, you might hear simpler alternatives like “go up” or “get bigger.” For example, instead of “The cost increased,” you might hear “The cost went up.” In formal writing, ‘increase’ (and its collocations) is usually preferred for its precision.
What are some good synonyms for ‘increase’ when I want to vary my vocabulary?
Depending on the context and nuance, you could use: rise, grow, expand, augment, escalate, boost, enhance, multiply, accelerate, surge, soar. For example, instead of “a rapid increase,” you could say “a surge” or “a sharp rise.” When ‘increase’ is a verb, ‘boost’ or ‘enhance’ can be good alternatives, especially when talking about making something better or stronger.
For my advanced students, I often push them beyond common collocations. Are there any more idiomatic or less common but still natural pairings with 'increase' that you might hint at for future discussions?
Julian, that's an insightful query for advanced learners! Beyond the general adverbs, 'increase' can be paired with more specialized adverbs depending on the context. For instance, in economic discussions, 'increase incrementally' or 'increase marginally' are precise. For a more idiomatic feel, one might sometimes say 'increase by leaps and bounds' (though that's more common with 'grow'). We'll certainly explore these nuances in advanced collocation articles!
Before this, I might have said 'profits increased much big.' Now I know to use 'dramatically' or 'significantly'! This is why collocations are so important. Thanks for highlighting this!
I'm just starting my English journey, and sometimes it feels overwhelming. Articles like this make it so much easier to understand these little but important details. Feeling more confident already!
Chloe, it's wonderful to hear that our articles are helping you feel more confident! Learning a new language can definitely feel overwhelming at times, but remember that every small detail you master brings you closer to fluency. Keep up the fantastic work, and never hesitate to ask questions!
Can you give an example of 'increase exponentially'? I know what it means mathematically, but how often is it used in general English discourse compared to, say, 'dramatically'?
Great question, Omar! 'Increase exponentially' is indeed used in general discourse, often to convey a very rapid and accelerating rate of increase, though perhaps less frequently than 'dramatically' or 'significantly.' For example: 'The virus cases increased exponentially in the first few weeks.' It implies a doubling or more with each successive period, so it carries a stronger, more precise meaning than 'dramatically,' which can just mean 'a lot.'
I always felt my sentences were a bit 'flat' when describing changes. Now I have the tools to add more punch! Especially useful for business reports. Thanks!
When you say 'The company increased its profits' vs. 'Profits increased steadily,' is there a preference for active or passive voice with specific adverbs in formal contexts? Or is it purely stylistic?
Excellent observation, Hiroshi! In formal writing, especially academic or scientific, active voice ('The company increased its profits') is often preferred for clarity and directness when the agent is known. However, if the agent is unknown, unimportant, or the focus is on the action/result ('Profits increased steadily'), the intransitive use (which isn't strictly passive, but focuses on the subject undergoing the change) is perfectly acceptable and common. The choice often depends on what you want to emphasize in your sentence.
So clear and concise! This has definitely clarified things for me.
Studying for my TOEIC exam and this is gold! Collocations are often tested implicitly. This helps me solidify my understanding. Will there be more articles like this for other common verbs?
We're delighted this helps with your TOEIC prep, Pavel! You're absolutely right; understanding collocations is crucial for scoring well. And yes, absolutely! We plan to cover many more common verbs and nouns to help you build a robust and natural vocabulary. Keep following Translateen.com!
When I say 'profits increased steadily,' should I emphasize 'steadily' more? Or does it flow naturally? I'm always trying to improve my spoken English rhythm.
That's a great question about spoken rhythm, Fatima! For 'profits increased steadily,' you'd typically place a slight, natural emphasis on 'steadily' to highlight the manner of the increase, but it should still flow smoothly. The key is to avoid over-emphasizing any one word too much unless you're making a specific dramatic point. Practice saying it aloud and listening to native speakers for the most natural cadence!
Just discovered Translateen.com and I'm loving the content! This article on 'increase' is a perfect example of how you break down complex topics into digestible parts. Keep up the excellent work!