Increase vs. Improve — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 12, 2024
Increase involves raising numbers or quantities, focusing on quantity, while improve focuses on enhancing quality or efficiency, not just quantity.
Difference Between Increase and Improve
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Increase primarily refers to a rise in numbers, quantity, or size, often measured quantitatively. For example, an increase in salary means more money, whereas an improvement implies a qualitative enhancement, such as better job satisfaction or efficiency, not necessarily quantifiable.
While an increase can be seen in physical dimensions, like an increase in the size of a product, improvement tends to denote enhancements in features, functionality, or performance, making something better rather than just bigger.
An increase in production might mean more units are made, highlighting quantity. On the other hand, an improvement in production could mean higher quality products or more efficient processes, focusing on the value or effectiveness of the output.
In the context of personal growth, to increase knowledge could simply mean learning more facts. Conversely, improving one’s understanding implies a deeper comprehension and application of knowledge, enhancing one's cognitive or practical skills.
An increase in revenue refers to earning more money, which is a quantitative measure. Improvement, however, might refer to better financial health, like higher profit margins, indicating a qualitative assessment of financial performance.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Definition
A rise in numbers, size, or quantity.
Enhancing quality, efficiency, or performance.
Focus
Quantitative changes.
Qualitative enhancements.
Examples
Number of products, salary, size.
Product quality, job satisfaction, process efficiency.
Measurement
Often measured numerically.
Measured by effectiveness, satisfaction, or value.
Contextual Application
Common in discussions about quantity or size.
Used when discussing quality improvements.
Compare with Definitions
Increase
Growth in terms of physical dimensions.
The increase in the apartment's price reflects its larger size.
Improve
A qualitative uplift in circumstances or conditions.
The renovation improved the building's safety standards.
Increase
A rise in a quantitative measure.
There was a significant increase in attendees this year.
Improve
To enhance the quality or value of something.
The new software update significantly improved performance.
Increase
To become larger or greater in size, amount, number, etc.
The company plans to increase its workforce by 10%.
Improve
To make something better than it was.
She took classes to improve her skills.
Increase
Expansion of scope or range.
To increase its market share, the company diversified its product line.
Improve
Amelioration of personal or professional abilities.
Regular practice improved his ability to play the piano.
Increase
To raise something to a higher degree or number.
Increasing the volume made the music more enjoyable.
Improve
Enhancement in terms of functionality or efficiency.
Improving our processes reduced costs and increased satisfaction.
Increase
To become greater or larger.
Improve
To raise to a more desirable or more excellent quality or condition; make better
Exercise can improve your health.
Increase
To multiply; reproduce.
Improve
To increase the productivity or value of (land or property)
Improved the house by adding a bathroom.
Increase
To make greater or larger.
Improve
To become better
Economic conditions are improving.
Increase
The act of increasing
A steady increase in temperature.
Improve
To make beneficial additions or changes
You can improve on the translation of that text.
Increase
The amount or rate by which something is increased
A tax increase of 15 percent.
Improve
(transitive) To make (something) better; to increase the value or productivity (of something).
Painting the woodwork will improve this house.
Buying more servers would improve performance.
Increase
(Obsolete) Reproduction and spread; propagation.
Improve
(intransitive) To become better.
I have improved since taking the tablets.
The error messages have improved since the last version, when they were incomprehensible.
Increase
(intransitive) (of a quantity, etc.) To become larger or greater.
His rage only increased when I told him of the lost money.
Improve
(obsolete) To disprove or make void; to refute.
Increase
(transitive) To make (a quantity, etc.) larger.
Improve
(obsolete) To disapprove of; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure.
Increase
To multiply by the production of young; to be fertile, fruitful, or prolific.
Improve
(dated) To use or employ to good purpose; to turn to profitable account.
To improve one's time;
To improve his means
Increase
To become more nearly full; to show more of the surface; to wax.
The Moon increases.
Improve
To disprove or make void; to refute.
Neither can any of them make so strong a reason which another can not improve.
Increase
An amount by which a quantity is increased.
Improve
To disapprove; to find fault with; to reprove; to censure; as, to improve negligence.
When he rehearsed his preachings and his doing unto the high apostles, they could improve nothing.
Increase
For a quantity, the act or process of becoming larger
Improve
To make better; to increase the value or good qualities of; to ameliorate by care or cultivation; as, to improve land.
I love not to improve the honor of the living by impairing that of the dead.
Increase
Offspring, progeny
Improve
To use or employ to good purpose; to make productive; to turn to profitable account; to utilize; as, to improve one's time; to improve his means.
We shall especially honor God by improving diligently the talents which God hath committed to us.
A hint that I do not remember to have seen opened and improved.
The court seldom fails to improve the opportunity.
How doth the little busy beeImprove each shining hour.
Those moments were diligently improved.
True policy, as well as good faith, in my opinion, binds us to improve the occasion.
Increase
(knitting) The creation of one or more new stitches; see Increase (knitting).
Improve
To advance or increase by use; to augment or add to; - said with reference to what is bad.
We all have, I fear, . . . not a little improved the wretched inheritance of our ancestors.
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!
Improve
To grow better; to advance or make progress in what is desirable; to make or show improvement; as, to improve in health.
We take care to improve in our frugality and diligence.
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.
Improve
To advance or progress in bad qualities; to grow worse.
Increase
To become more nearly full; to show more of the surface; to wax; as, the moon increases.
Improve
To increase; to be enhanced; to rise in value; as, the price of cotton improves.
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.
Improve
To make better;
The editor improved the manuscript with his changes
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.
Improve
Get better;
The weather improved toward evening
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.
Increase
Progeny; issue; offspring.
All the increase of thy house shall die in the flower of their age.
Increase
Generation.
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.
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
Increase
A change resulting in an increase;
The increase is scheduled for next month
Increase
A process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important;
The increase in unemployment
The growth of population
Increase
The amount by which something increases;
They proposed an increase of 15 percent in the fare
Increase
The act of increasing something;
He gave me an increase in salary
Increase
Become bigger or greater in amount;
The amount of work increased
Increase
Make bigger or more;
The boss finally increased her salary
The university increased the number of students it admitted
Common Curiosities
Is improvement always related to quality?
Improvement is predominantly associated with enhancements in quality, efficiency, or functionality, rather than quantity.
Can an increase lead to improvement?
An increase can lead to improvement if the rise in quantity or size contributes positively to overall quality or effectiveness.
What does improve mean?
Improve refers to making something better, typically through enhancements in quality, efficiency, or performance.
Can something increase without improving?
Yes, something can increase without improving if it grows in quantity or size but not in quality or effectiveness.
What does it mean to increase something?
To increase something means to make it larger in number, size, or amount.
What is a quantitative increase?
A quantitative increase refers to a rise in numbers, such as more units produced or higher sales figures.
What is a qualitative improvement?
A qualitative improvement refers to an enhancement in the quality, such as better product features or higher efficiency.
What does it mean to increase efficiency?
Increasing efficiency typically means accomplishing more with the same or fewer resources, which can also be seen as improving efficiency.
How does technology impact increase vs. improve?
Technology can lead to increases in production and efficiency, but improvements often require innovations that enhance quality or user experience.
Can personal skills be increased or improved?
Personal skills are typically improved through practice and learning, enhancing quality and efficiency, rather than simply increased.
How do businesses view increase vs. improve?
Businesses often aim to increase metrics like sales or production for growth, while improvement focuses on enhancing quality, customer satisfaction, or efficiency for sustainability.
How can one improve their health?
Improving health may involve enhancing diet quality, increasing physical activity, or improving mental well-being, focusing on qualitative changes.
Is it better to increase quantity or improve quality?
The preference between increasing quantity or improving quality depends on context, goals, and the potential impact on satisfaction or performance.
What is the difference between improving a process and increasing process output?
Improving a process involves making it more efficient or effective, whereas increasing process output focuses on producing more quantity without necessarily enhancing quality.
Can an organization's culture be improved?
Yes, an organization's culture can be improved by implementing practices that enhance communication, employee satisfaction, and overall workplace environment.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Story vs. Anecdote
Next Comparison
Coalition vs. AllianceAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
