Cool MateIncrease vs Turn up
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Increase
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Turn up
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Increase
| Increase | Turn up | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkriːs/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪz/","/ɪnˈkriːst/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkriːs/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪz/","/ɪnˈkriːst/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //tɜːn ʌp//🇺🇸 //tɜrn ʌp// |
| Meaning | To make something larger in amount or size. | To arrive or increase in volume or intensity. |
| Example | We need to increase our budget for the project. | I hope more people will turn up to the meeting. |
| 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 | turn up the volume, turn up late, turn up the heat |
| Antonyms | decrease, reduce, diminish | turn down, 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. | Using 'turn up' in place of 'arrive' without context., Confusing 'turn up' with 'turn down' when referring to volume., Forgetting to use the object after 'turn up' in some phrases. |
| 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. | Common in spoken English, suitable for informal and neutral contexts. Use with caution in formal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Increase vs Turn up
What's the difference between Increase and Turn up?
Increase: To make something larger in amount or size. Turn up: To arrive or increase in volume or intensity.
Which is more common: Increase and Turn up?
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. Turn up: I hope more people will turn up to the meeting.
Can I use Increase and Turn up interchangeably?
Not always. Increase and Turn up 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.