# increase

> English word · Verb · IPA /ɪnˈkɹiːs/ · frequency rank #877

## Definitions
1. (of a quantity, etc.) To become larger or greater, to greaten.
2. To make (a quantity, etc.) larger.
3. To multiply by the production of young; to be fertile, fruitful, or prolific.
4. To become more nearly full; to show more of the surface; to wax.

## Etymology
From Middle English encresen, borrowed from Anglo-Norman encreistre, from Latin increscere (“to increase”), from in (“in, on”) + crescō (“grow”).
The noun is from Middle English encres, from the verb.

## Easily confused with
- **increased** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/increase-vs-increased)
- **increases** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/increase-vs-increases)
- **incase** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/incase-vs-increase)
- **incense** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/incense-vs-increase)

## Common misspellings (11)
`icnrease`, `inccrease`, `incerase`, `incraese`, `increaes`, `increasse`, `incresae`, `incrrease`, `inncrease`, `inrcease`, `nicrease`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/increase