Cool MateIncrease vs Widen
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Increase
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Widen
Top 3,000 (common)C1verb
Most common: Increase
| Increase | Widen | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkriːs/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪz/","/ɪnˈkriːst/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkriːs/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪz/","/ɪnˈkriːst/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈwaɪdn/","/ˈwaɪdnz/","/ˈwaɪdnd/","/ˈwaɪdnɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈwaɪdn/","/ˈwaɪdnz/","/ˈwaɪdnd/","/ˈwaɪdnɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To make something larger in amount or size. | To make something bigger in size, especially from side to side. |
| Example | We need to increase our budget for the project. | The city plans to widen the main road to reduce traffic congestion. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | considerably, dramatically, drastically, be expected to, be likely to, by, from, in | considerably, dramatically, greatly, from, into, to, considerably, dramatically, greatly, from, into, to |
| Antonyms | decrease, reduce, diminish | narrow, constrict |
| 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 'widden' instead of 'widen'., Confusing 'widen' with 'widened' when speaking about the past., Mixing up 'widen' with 'broaden'. |
| 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 'widen' in general contexts like architecture or personal experiences (e.g., widen your perspective). Avoid in very informal conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Increase vs Widen
What's the difference between Increase and Widen?
Increase: To make something larger in amount or size. Widen: To make something bigger in size, especially from side to side.
Which is more common: Increase and Widen?
Increase is the most common in everyday English.
Are Increase and Widen the same CEFR level?
Increase: A2, Widen: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Increase and Widen interchangeably?
Not always. Increase and Widen 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.