Cool MateIncrease vs Swell
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Increase
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Swell
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Increase
| Increase | Swell | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkriːs/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪz/","/ɪnˈkriːst/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkriːs/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪz/","/ɪnˈkriːst/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //swɛl//🇺🇸 //swɛl// |
| Meaning | To make something larger in amount or size. | To get bigger or larger. |
| Example | We need to increase our budget for the project. | The river began to swell after the heavy rains. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | considerably, dramatically, drastically, be expected to, be likely to, by, from, in | swell with pride, swell up, swell in size, swell with emotion, swell the ranks |
| Antonyms | decrease, reduce, diminish | shrink, diminish, reduce |
| Common mistakes | Using 'increases' as a noun instead of a verb., Confusing 'increase' with 'decrease' which has the opposite meaning., Incorrectly forming the past tense as 'increased' when it should be 'increased' without a change. | Mistakenly using 'swell' instead of 'sweal' in some dialects., Confusing 'swell' with 'swell up', which implies a gradual increase., Using 'swell' only for physical size, ignoring its emotional connotations. |
| Usage notes | Use 'increase' in contexts involving growth, improvement, or enhancement. It is appropriate for both spoken and written English, but avoid in overly casual conversations where simpler words like 'go up' might be preferred. | Use 'swell' to describe an increase in size, volume, or intensity. It is commonly used in both casual and formal contexts. Avoid overusing it in technical environments where more precise terms are preferred. |
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Frequently asked questions: Increase vs Swell
What's the difference between Increase and Swell?
Increase: To make something larger in amount or size. Swell: To get bigger or larger.
Which is more common: Increase and Swell?
Increase is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Increase: We need to increase our budget for the project. Swell: The river began to swell after the heavy rains.
Can I use Increase and Swell interchangeably?
Not always. Increase and Swell are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.