Cool MateExtend vs Increase
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Extend
Top 2,000 (common)B2verb
Increase
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most common: Increase
| Extend | Increase | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪkˈstend/","/ɪkˈstendz/","/ɪkˈstendɪd/","/ɪkˈstendɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪkˈstend/","/ɪkˈstendz/","/ɪkˈstendɪd/","/ɪkˈstendɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪnˈkriːs/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪz/","/ɪnˈkriːst/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪnˈkriːs/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪz/","/ɪnˈkriːst/","/ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To make something longer or bigger. | To make something larger in amount or size. |
| Example | We need to extend the deadline for our project submission. | We need to increase our budget for the project. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb |
| Collocations | greatly, significantly, beyond, from, to, greatly, significantly, beyond, from, to, greatly, significantly, beyond, from, to | considerably, dramatically, drastically, be expected to, be likely to, by, from, in |
| Antonyms | shorten, reduce | decrease, reduce, diminish |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'expand' — forgetting that 'extend' often refers to length rather than volume., Using the wrong preposition with 'extend', like 'extend to' instead of 'extend for'. | 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. |
| Usage notes | Use 'extend' when talking about adding time, space, or length. Appropriate in both casual and formal contexts, but avoid using in overly informal situations. | 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. |
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Frequently asked questions: Extend vs Increase
What's the difference between Extend and Increase?
Extend: To make something longer or bigger. Increase: To make something larger in amount or size.
Which is more common: Extend and Increase?
Increase is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Extend and Increase?
Extend is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Extend and Increase the same CEFR level?
Extend: B2, Increase: A2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Extend and Increase?
Extend: verb, Increase: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Extend: We need to extend the deadline for our project submission. Increase: We need to increase our budget for the project.
Can I use Extend and Increase interchangeably?
Not always. Extend and Increase 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.