Meaning & use
increase it
Last updated
UK/ɪnˈkriːs ɪt/
US/ɪnˈkriːs ɪt/
Meaning
phrasetransitive
To make something larger in amount, size, or degree.
Grammar: Takes an object; the pronoun 'it' stands for the thing being made larger.
Patterns
- increase it by something
- increase it to something
The company wants to increase it by 10 percent next year.
If you increase it too quickly, the machine may overheat.
We can increase it to 200 units without extra cost.
Common combinations
- increase it by
- They plan to increase it by 5 percent.
- increase it to
- Please increase it to the maximum level.
- increase it significantly
- The new policy will increase it significantly.
- increase it gradually
- You should increase it gradually to avoid problems.
Synonyms and how they differ
- raise
- Often used for prices, salaries, or levels; 'increase it' is more general.
- boost
- Suggests a quick or energetic increase; 'increase it' is neutral.
Opposites
decrease itreduce it
Commonly confused: increase it or increase?
increase it vs increase
As a verb, 'increase' can be used alone (e.g., 'Sales increased'); 'increase it' needs the object 'it'.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
The correct order is 'increase it by 10%'. Option B has wrong word order; C misplaces 'by'; D omits 'to'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “increase it”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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