What is the difference between decrease and increase?
decrease | increase | Antonyms |
Of a quantity, to become smaller.
To make (a quantity) smaller.
An amount by which a quantity is decreased.
(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 .
(of a quantity) To become larger.
* Bible, Genesis vii. 17
* Shakespeare
To make (a quantity) larger.
* {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=
, title= To multiply by the production of young; to be fertile, fruitful, or prolific.
* Sir M. Hale
(astronomy) To become more nearly full; to show more of the surface; to wax.
An amount by which a quantity is increased.
* {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=
, magazine=(American Scientist), title= For a quantity, the act or process of becoming larger
(knitting) The creation of one or more new stitches; see .
Increase is a antonym of decrease.
In transitive terms the difference between decrease and increase
is that decrease is to make (a quantity) smaller while increase is to make (a quantity) larger.In knitting terms the difference between decrease and increase
is that decrease is 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) while increase is the creation of one or more new stitches; see Increase (knitting).As verbs the difference between decrease and increase
is that decrease is of a quantity, to become smaller while increase is to become larger.As nouns the difference between decrease and increase
is that decrease is an amount by which a quantity is decreased while increase is an amount by which a quantity is increased.decrease
English
Verb
(decreas)Synonyms
* (become smaller) drop, fall, go down, plummet (rapidly), plunge (rapidly), reduce, shrink, sink * (make smaller) abate, cut, decrement, lower, reduceAntonyms
* (become larger) go up, grow, increase, rise, soar (rapidly), shoot up (rapidly) * (make larger) increase, increment, raise, up (informal)Noun
(en noun)Synonyms
* (amount by which a quantity is decreased) cut, decrement, drop, fall, loss, lowering, reduction, shrinkageAntonyms
* (amount by which a quantity is decreased) gain, increase, increment, raise , riseincrease
English
Alternative forms
* encreaseVerb
(increas)- The waters increased and bare up the ark.
- The heavens forbid / But that our loves and comforts should increase , / Even as our days do grow!
Fenella Saunders, magazine=(American Scientist)
Tiny Lenses See the Big Picture, passage=The single-imaging optic of the mammalian eye offers some distinct visual advantages. Such lenses can take in photons from a wide range of angles, increasing light sensitivity. They also have high spatial resolution, resolving incoming images in minute detail.}}
- Fishes are more numerous of increasing than beasts or birds, as appears by their numerous spawn.
- The Moon increases .
Synonyms
* (become larger) go up, grow, rise, soar (rapidly), shoot up (rapidly) * (make larger) increment, raise, (informal) upAntonyms
* (become larger) decrease, drop, fall, go down, plummet (rapidly), plunge (rapidly), reduce, shrink, sink * (make larger) cut, decrease, decrement, lower, reduceDerived terms
* increasableNoun
(en noun)Philip J. Bushnell
Solvents, Ethanol, Car Crashes & Tolerance, passage=Surprisingly, this analysis revealed that acute exposure to solvent vapors at concentrations below those associated with long-term effects appears to increase the risk of a fatal automobile accident. Furthermore, this increase in risk is comparable to the risk of death from leukemia after long-term exposure to benzene, another solvent, which has the well-known property of causing this type of cancer.}}