Decrease vs. Increase: What's the Difference?
Decrease and Increase Definitions
Decrease
To become or cause to become less or smaller, as in number, amount, or intensity.
Increase
To become greater or larger.
Decrease
The act or process of decreasing.
Increase
To multiply; reproduce.
Decrease
The amount by which something decreases.
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Increase
To make greater or larger.
Decrease
(intransitive) Of a quantity, to become smaller.
The quality of our products has decreased since the main designer left.
Increase
The act of increasing
A steady increase in temperature.
Decrease
(transitive) To make (a quantity) smaller.
Let's decrease the volume a little so we can hear each other talking.
Increase
The amount or rate by which something is increased
A tax increase of 15 percent.
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Decrease
An amount by which a quantity is decreased.
After six years of constant growth, the company reported a slight decrease in sales last year.
Increase
(Obsolete) Reproduction and spread; propagation.
Decrease
(knitting) A reduction in the number of stitches, usually accomplished by suspending the stitch to be decreased from another existing stitch or by knitting it together with another stitch. See Decrease (knitting).
Increase
(intransitive) (of a quantity, etc.) To become larger or greater.
His rage only increased when I told him of the lost money.
Decrease
To grow less, - opposed to increase; to be diminished gradually, in size, degree, number, duration, etc., or in strength, quality, or excellence; as, they days decrease in length from June to December.
He must increase, but I must decrease.
The olive leaf, which certainly them toldThe flood decreased.
Crete's ample fields diminish to our eye;Before the Boreal blasts the vessels fly.
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Increase
(transitive) To make (a quantity, etc.) larger.
Decrease
To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance decreases one's means.
That might decrease their present store.
Increase
To multiply by the production of young; to be fertile, fruitful, or prolific.
Decrease
A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of revenue or of strength.
Increase
To become more nearly full; to show more of the surface; to wax.
The Moon increases.
Decrease
The wane of the moon.
Increase
An amount by which a quantity is increased.
Decrease
A change downward;
There was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided
There was a sharp drop-off in sales
Increase
For a quantity, the act or process of becoming larger
Decrease
A process of becoming smaller or shorter
Increase
Offspring, progeny
Decrease
The amount by which something decreases
Increase
(knitting) The creation of one or more new stitches; see Increase (knitting).
Decrease
The act of decreasing or reducing something
Increase
To become greater or more in size, quantity, number, degree, value, intensity, power, authority, reputation, wealth; to grow; to augment; to advance; - opposed to decrease.
The waters increased and bare up the ark.
He must increase, but I must decrease.
The heavens forbidBut that our loves and comforts should increase,Even as our days do grow!
Decrease
Decrease in size, extent, or range;
The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester
The cabin pressure fell dramatically
Her weight fall to under a hundred pounds
His voice fell to a whisper
Increase
To multiply by the production of young; to be fertile, fruitful, or prolific.
Fishes are more numerous or increasing than beasts or birds, as appears by their numerous spawn.
Decrease
Make smaller;
He decreased his staff
Increase
To become more nearly full; to show more of the surface; to wax; as, the moon increases.
Increase
To augment or make greater in bulk, quantity, extent, value, or amount, etc.; to add to; to extend; to lengthen; to enhance; to aggravate; as, to increase one's possessions, influence.
I will increase the famine.
Make denialsIncrease your services.
Increase
Addition or enlargement in size, extent, quantity, number, intensity, value, substance, etc.; augmentation; growth.
As if increase of appetite had grownBy what it fed on.
For things of tender kind for pleasure madeShoot up with swift increase, and sudden are decay'd.
Increase
That which is added to the original stock by augmentation or growth; produce; profit; interest.
Take thou no usury of him, or increase.
Let them not live to taste this land's increase.
Increase
Progeny; issue; offspring.
All the increase of thy house shall die in the flower of their age.
Increase
Generation.
Increase
The period of increasing light, or luminous phase; the waxing; - said of the moon.
Seeds, hair, nails, hedges, and herbs will grow soonest if set or cut in the increase of the moon.
Increase
A quantity that is added;
There was an addition to property taxes this year
They recorded the cattle's gain in weight over a period of weeks
Increase
A change resulting in an increase;
The increase is scheduled for next month
Increase
A process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important;
The increase in unemployment
The growth of population
Increase
The amount by which something increases;
They proposed an increase of 15 percent in the fare
Increase
The act of increasing something;
He gave me an increase in salary
Increase
Become bigger or greater in amount;
The amount of work increased
Increase
Make bigger or more;
The boss finally increased her salary
The university increased the number of students it admitted
