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Decrease vs. Increase: Know the Difference

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By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
Decrease means to become smaller or less in size, amount, intensity, or degree, while increase means to become larger or greater in the same aspects.
Decrease vs. Increase

Key Differences

Decrease implies a reduction in size, quantity, or intensity, signifying a movement towards a lesser state. It can apply to various contexts, such as temperature, prices, or workload. Increase, conversely, denotes a rise or growth in these same aspects, indicating a movement towards a greater state. While decrease is about diminishing, increase is about augmenting.
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Dec 04, 2023
In economic terms, decrease refers to a downward trend in financial figures like profits, market values, or investments, indicating a contraction. Increase in this context means an upward movement in such financial metrics, signifying expansion or growth. A decrease suggests a decline in economic health, whereas an increase often points to economic improvement.
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Dec 04, 2023
Regarding usage in scientific contexts, decrease often relates to a reduction in measurements, such as temperature, speed, or frequency. Increase is used to describe an escalation in these measurements. A decrease in scientific terms can indicate a decline in activity or energy, whereas an increase signifies a rise in the same.
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Dec 04, 2023
In a social or behavioral context, decrease can refer to a reduction in occurrences or intensities, like a decrease in crime rates or social media usage. Increase refers to a rise in such occurrences or activities, suggesting more frequent or intense engagement. A decrease in social terms often implies improvement or decline in activities, whereas an increase can suggest either escalation or problems, depending on the context.
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Dec 04, 2023
Linguistically, decrease is used both as a verb (to decrease) and a noun (a decrease), often accompanied by qualifiers to denote the extent. Increase similarly functions as both a verb and a noun, and can be modified to convey the degree of growth or escalation. Both words are versatile in grammatical usage, adapting to various contexts.
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Dec 04, 2023
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Comparison Chart

Definition

Becoming smaller or less
Becoming larger or greater
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Dec 04, 2023

Economic Context

Downward trend in values or quantities
Upward trend in values or quantities
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Scientific Usage

Reduction in measurements or quantities
Escalation in measurements or quantities
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Social/Behavioral Context

Reduction in occurrences or intensities
Rise in occurrences or intensities
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Linguistic Function

Used as both verb and noun
Used as both verb and noun
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Decrease and Increase Definitions

Decrease

To reduce in size, quantity, or intensity.
The company saw a decrease in profits this quarter.
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Dec 04, 2023

Increase

To grow or rise in size, quantity, or degree.
The company reported an increase in sales.
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Dec 04, 2023

Decrease

A reduction or decline in measurable aspects.
There was a noticeable decrease in temperature overnight.
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Dec 04, 2023

Increase

Growing in extent, number, or amount.
There was an increase in online course enrollments.
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Decrease

The act or process of becoming less or lower.
A decrease in investment could impact the business negatively.
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Increase

A rise or augmentation in measurable aspects.
The city experienced an increase in population.
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Dec 04, 2023

Decrease

To become or cause to become less or smaller, as in number, amount, or intensity.
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

The act or process of becoming more or higher.
An increase in exercise led to better health outcomes.
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Decrease

The act or process of decreasing.
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

To become greater or larger.
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Oct 19, 2023

Decrease

The amount by which something decreases.
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

To multiply; reproduce.
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Oct 19, 2023

Decrease

(intransitive) Of a quantity, to become smaller.
The quality of our products has decreased since the main designer left.
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

To make greater or larger.
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Oct 19, 2023

Decrease

(transitive) To make (a quantity) smaller.
Let's decrease the volume a little so we can hear each other talking.
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

The act of increasing
A steady increase in temperature.
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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.
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

The amount or rate by which something is increased
A tax increase of 15 percent.
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Oct 19, 2023

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).
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Increase

(Obsolete) Reproduction and spread; propagation.
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Oct 19, 2023

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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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

(intransitive) (of a quantity, etc.) To become larger or greater.
His rage only increased when I told him of the lost money.
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Oct 19, 2023

Decrease

To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance decreases one's means.
That might decrease their present store.
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

(transitive) To make (a quantity, etc.) larger.
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Oct 19, 2023

Decrease

A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of revenue or of strength.
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

To multiply by the production of young; to be fertile, fruitful, or prolific.
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Oct 19, 2023

Decrease

The wane of the moon.
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

To become more nearly full; to show more of the surface; to wax.
The Moon increases.
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Oct 19, 2023

Decrease

A change downward;
There was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided
There was a sharp drop-off in sales
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

An amount by which a quantity is increased.
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Oct 19, 2023

Decrease

A process of becoming smaller or shorter
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

For a quantity, the act or process of becoming larger
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Oct 19, 2023

Decrease

The amount by which something decreases
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

Offspring, progeny
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Decrease

The act of decreasing or reducing something
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

(knitting) The creation of one or more new stitches; see Increase (knitting).
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Oct 19, 2023

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
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Oct 19, 2023

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!
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Oct 19, 2023

Decrease

Make smaller;
He decreased his staff
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Oct 19, 2023

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.
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Oct 19, 2023

Decrease

To become smaller or less in a specific context.
The doctor noted a decrease in the patient's symptoms.
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Dec 04, 2023

Increase

To become more nearly full; to show more of the surface; to wax; as, the moon increases.
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Oct 19, 2023

Decrease

Diminishing in extent, number, or amount.
The decrease in demand led to lower production.
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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.
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Oct 19, 2023

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.
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Oct 19, 2023

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.
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

Progeny; issue; offspring.
All the increase of thy house shall die in the flower of their age.
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

Generation.
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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.
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Oct 19, 2023

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
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

A change resulting in an increase;
The increase is scheduled for next month
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

A process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important;
The increase in unemployment
The growth of population
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

The amount by which something increases;
They proposed an increase of 15 percent in the fare
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

The act of increasing something;
He gave me an increase in salary
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

Become bigger or greater in amount;
The amount of work increased
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

Make bigger or more;
The boss finally increased her salary
The university increased the number of students it admitted
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Oct 19, 2023

Increase

To become larger or greater in a specific context.
The increase in traffic is due to the new shopping center.
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Dec 04, 2023

Repeatedly Asked Queries

Is "increase" always positive?

No, increase can be negative in certain contexts, like an increase in pollution.
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Dec 04, 2023

Can "decrease" mean total elimination?

No, decrease implies reduction, not complete elimination.
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Dec 04, 2023

Can "decrease" be used in social contexts?

Yes, like a decrease in crime rates or public interest.
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Dec 04, 2023

Are "decrease" and "increase" opposites?

Yes, they are generally considered antonyms.
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Dec 04, 2023

Does "increase" always mean improvement?

Not necessarily; it depends on the context.
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Dec 04, 2023

Can "decrease" be used as a noun?

Yes, it can function as a noun, indicating a reduction.
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Dec 04, 2023

Can "decrease" be used in a financial context?

Yes, it can refer to a reduction in financial values like profits or investments.
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Dec 04, 2023

Is "increase" only about quantity?

No, it can also refer to quality, intensity, or degree.
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Dec 04, 2023

Does "increase" always imply growth?

In most contexts, increase implies growth or augmentation.
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Dec 04, 2023

Is "increase" used in scientific measurements?

Yes, like an increase in temperature or speed.
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Shumaila Saeed
Dec 04, 2023

Can "decrease" refer to a decline in health?

Yes, it can signify a reduction in health or wellness.
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Dec 04, 2023

Is "increase" applicable in environmental contexts?

Yes, like an increase in sea levels or global temperatures.
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Dec 04, 2023

Does "increase" always refer to large changes?

No, increases can be small or gradual.
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Dec 04, 2023

Can "decrease" apply to physical size?

Yes, it can refer to the reduction in physical dimensions.
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Dec 04, 2023

Can "decrease" apply to emotional states?

Yes, like a decrease in stress or anxiety levels.
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Dec 04, 2023

Is "increase" a neutral term?

Yes, it's neutral and context determines its positive or negative connotation.
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Dec 04, 2023

Can "decrease" imply a negative trend?

In some contexts, it can suggest a negative trend or problem.
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Dec 04, 2023

Can "decrease" be temporary?

Yes, decreases can be temporary or reversible.
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Dec 04, 2023

Does "increase" always require a comparison?

Often, but not always; context provides clarity.
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Dec 04, 2023

Can "decrease" be intentional?

Yes, like a deliberate decrease in production or spending.
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Dec 04, 2023

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Shumaila Saeed
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Shumaila Saeed
Shumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.

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