Definitions and Examples of increase, raise
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
To make something greater in size, amount, or degree.
Example
The company decided to increase its production capacity to meet the growing demand for its products.
To cause something to be higher or more elevated; to lift or elevate something.
Example
He had to raise his voice to be heard over the loud music at the party.
Key Differences: increase vs raise
- 1Increase is a general term that describes making something greater in size, amount, or degree.
- 2Raise is a more specific term that describes lifting or elevating something physically or metaphorically.
Effective Usage of increase, raise
- 1Business: Use increase to describe growth in sales, revenue, or profits. Use raise to describe an increase in salaries, wages, or prices.
- 2Education: Use increase to describe improvement in grades, test scores, or academic performance. Use raise to describe an increase in funding, grants, or scholarships.
- 3Daily Life: Use increase to describe an increase in temperature, speed, or volume. Use raise to describe raising your hand, raising a flag, or raising a child.
Remember this!
The antonyms have distinct nuances: Increase conveys general growth, while raise refers to lifting or elevating something. Use these words in business to describe growth or salary increases, in education to describe academic improvement or funding increases, and in daily life to describe temperature or raising something physically.