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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

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