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B1 verb 9 min read

увеличивать

Examples
Explanation увеличивать in your Level:
At the A1 level, you should focus on the most basic physical and digital meanings of увеличивать. Think about your smartphone or computer. When you want to see a picture better, you 'zoom in' or 'make it bigger'. This is увеличивать фото. When you want the music to be louder, you увеличивать громкость. At this stage, don't worry too much about complex grammar. Just remember the pattern: увеличивать + the thing you are making bigger (in the Accusative case). For example, 'Я увеличиваю экран' (I am making the screen bigger). It is a very useful word for describing simple actions you do with technology every day. You might also hear it in a store if someone asks to 'увеличить размер' (increase the size) of a piece of clothing, although 'поменять на размер больше' is more common. Just think of it as the 'plus button' (+) in word form. It's about more, bigger, and louder. Try to use it when you are talking about your hobbies, like photography or listening to music. Even at this early stage, knowing this word helps you navigate digital interfaces in Russian-speaking environments. Remember, the opposite is 'уменьшать' (the minus button). Practice saying 'увеличивать' slowly: u-ve-LI-chi-vat'. The stress is in the middle, which is important for people to understand you. If you can use this word, you can already explain many basic needs and actions related to your environment.
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At the A2 level, you begin to use увеличивать in more social and descriptive contexts. You are no longer just 'zooming in' on photos; you are talking about increasing things in your life. For instance, you might want to увеличивать your vocabulary (словарный запас) or увеличивать the time you spend studying Russian. At this level, you should start using the preposition на to say how much something increased. For example: 'Я хочу увеличивать время прогулки на десять минут' (I want to increase my walk time by ten minutes). You might also encounter this word in simple news headlines or weather reports, such as 'увеличивать количество осадков' (increasing the amount of precipitation). It's also common in the context of work or simple chores. If you are cooking, you might увеличивать огонь (increase the heat). The key for A2 is to move from just technology to everyday activities. You should also be aware that there is a perfective version, увеличить, which you use when the action is finished. For example: 'Я увеличил шрифт' (I [already] increased the font). Understanding the difference between 'doing' (imperfective) and 'done' (perfective) is a major step at the A2 level. Practice using it in sentences about your daily routine and your progress in learning. It's a great word for showing that you are improving and growing in your skills.
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At the B1 level, увеличивать becomes a tool for discussing trends, business, and more abstract concepts. This is the level where you need to be precise. You should understand the difference between увеличивать and its synonyms like повышать or расширять. For example, you увеличиваете production (производство) or profits (прибыль), but you повышаете quality (качество). You will hear this word often in work meetings or when reading articles about the economy. You should be comfortable using the preposition в to describe proportional increases, like увеличивать в два раза (to double). This is essential for talking about statistics or results. B1 learners should also start using the reflexive form увеличиваться when the subject is increasing on its own. For example: 'Население города увеличивается' (The city's population is increasing). This shows a higher level of grammatical control. You might also use it in more complex sentences with conjunctions: 'Мы будем увеличивать расходы, чтобы улучшить наш сервис' (We will increase expenses in order to improve our service). At this stage, the word is no longer just a 'plus button'; it's a way to describe growth, strategy, and development in various fields of life, from personal finance to corporate goals. It's a key word for anyone who wants to work or study in a Russian-speaking environment.
At the B2 level, you are expected to use увеличивать with nuance and in more formal, academic, or professional registers. You should be able to discuss complex social issues, such as увеличивать разрыв между богатыми и бедными (increasing the gap between the rich and the poor) or увеличивать антропогенную нагрузку на природу (increasing the human-induced load on nature). You should be familiar with the passive participles derived from this verb, like увеличиваемый (being increased) or the noun увеличение (increase). For instance, 'Постоянное увеличение цен вызывает недовольство' (The constant increase in prices causes dissatisfaction). At B2, you should also understand the metaphorical uses of the word. For example, 'увеличивать дистанцию' can mean physically increasing distance, but it can also mean becoming more emotionally distant from someone. You should be able to use adverbs to qualify the increase: значительно увеличивать (to increase significantly), незначительно увеличивать (to increase slightly), or постепенно увеличивать (to increase gradually). This level of detail allows you to provide sophisticated analysis in both speaking and writing. You should also be able to recognize the word in literature or high-level journalism, where it might be used to describe the intensification of a conflict or the expansion of a philosophical idea. Your goal is to use увеличивать as part of a rich, varied vocabulary that can handle any topic.
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At the C1 level, your use of увеличивать should be flawless, and you should be able to appreciate its place within the broader system of Russian verbal aspects and prefixes. You should understand how the prefix у- interacts with the root to create this specific meaning of 'enlargement' and how it contrasts with other prefixes like пре- in преувеличивать (to exaggerate). A C1 learner can use увеличивать in highly specialized contexts, such as legal documents, scientific research papers, or philosophical treatises. You might discuss увеличивать энтропию системы (increasing the entropy of a system) or увеличивать легитимность власти (increasing the legitimacy of power). You should also be adept at using the word in stylistic variations. For example, in a formal speech, you might choose увеличивать to sound more authoritative, while in a creative essay, you might use it to build a metaphor about the 'enlargement of the soul'. You should also be aware of the historical development of the word and its etymological links to other words in the Slavic family. At this level, you don't just 'know' the word; you 'feel' its weight and register. You can effortlessly switch between увеличивать and its more rare or poetic synonyms depending on the audience. Your mastery allows you to use the word to construct complex, multi-clause sentences that maintain perfect grammatical and semantic coherence.
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At the C2 level, увеличивать is a basic building block that you can manipulate with total mastery and creative flair. You understand the deepest nuances of its usage, including rare idiomatic expressions or archaic contexts where it might have appeared. You can analyze the word's role in the rhythm and flow of a sentence, using it to create specific rhetorical effects. For example, you might use a series of verbs to describe a multi-faceted growth: 'Компания не просто росла, она расширяла горизонты, умножала капитал и постоянно увеличивала своё влияние на мировом рынке'. You are also fully aware of the socio-linguistic implications of using this word versus its synonyms in different Russian-speaking regions or social strata. You can use увеличивать in irony or satire, perhaps to mock bureaucratic language or to highlight the absurdity of 'endless growth' in a finite world. Your command of the word is so complete that you can even play with its form in word games or poetry, understanding how its sounds and structure resonate within the Russian language. For a C2 speaker, увеличивать is not just a verb; it is a versatile instrument in a vast linguistic orchestra, capable of expressing everything from the simplest physical change to the most complex abstract evolution of thought and society.
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Examples

The Russian verb увеличивать (imperfective) is a cornerstone of the Russian language, primarily used to describe the process of making something larger, greater, or more numerous. Derived from the root -велик- (meaning 'great' or 'large'), the prefix у- acts as a directional or transformative marker, and the suffix -ива- denotes the ongoing, habitual, or process-oriented nature of the action. To understand this word, one must envision a scale: whether it is the physical dimensions of a photograph, the numerical value of a salary, or the abstract intensity of a feeling, увеличивать represents the upward movement on that scale.

Physical Expansion
When a scientist uses a microscope to see a cell more clearly, they are performing the action of увеличивать the image. It refers to the physical magnification or enlargement of an object's appearance or actual size.

Современные микроскопы позволяют увеличивать изображение в тысячи раз, открывая нам тайны микромира.

Economic and Numerical Context
In the world of finance and business, this verb is ubiquitous. Companies strive to увеличивать прибыль (increase profit) or увеличивать долю рынка (increase market share). It implies a strategic and often continuous effort to boost numbers.

Директор решил увеличивать расходы на рекламу, чтобы привлечь новых клиентов в этом квартале.

Beyond the tangible, the word extends into the realm of abstract qualities. One can увеличивать скорость (increase speed) or увеличивать давление (increase pressure), both in a physical sense and a metaphorical one, such as social or psychological pressure. It is a versatile verb that functions in formal reports, scientific papers, and casual conversations about personal growth or household budgets. When you use увеличивать, you are focusing on the dynamic of growth. It is not just that something is 'big'; it is the act of making it bigger than it was a moment before.

Нам нужно постоянно увеличивать наши знания, чтобы оставаться конкурентоспособными в современном мире.

Social Dynamics
In a social context, governments might aim to увеличивать рождаемость (increase the birth rate) or увеличивать пенсионный возраст (increase the retirement age). These are large-scale actions affecting millions, showing the word's capacity for high-level administrative usage.

Государство планирует увеличивать количество бюджетных мест в университетах для поддержки молодых талантов.

Finally, the word is essential in technology. Whether you are 'increasing the volume' on your phone or 'increasing the resolution' of a video, увеличивать is the verb of choice. It bridges the gap between the mechanical past and the digital present, maintaining its relevance across centuries of linguistic evolution.

Если ты будешь увеличивать громкость слишком сильно, ты можешь испортить динамики своего нового ноутбука.

Mastering увеличивать requires understanding its grammatical environment. As a transitive verb, it always takes a direct object in the Accusative case (кого/что). This is the 'what' that is being increased. However, the nuance of Russian comes in how we describe the *amount* or *scale* of the increase. This is typically done using specific prepositions followed by the Accusative case.

Using 'на' (by an amount)
When you increase something by a specific quantity (like 5 dollars or 10 percent), use the preposition на. This indicates the margin of growth.

Мы планируем увеличивать производство на десять процентов каждый год.

Using 'в' (by a factor of)
When you multiply something (double, triple), use the preposition в. For example, в два раза (twice/two times). This indicates a proportional increase.

Линза может увеличивать мелкий шрифт в пять раз для удобства чтения.

The verb also frequently appears in the passive voice or as a participle. For instance, увеличиваемый (being increased) or in reflexive forms like увеличиваться (to increase/to grow by itself). While увеличивать is active (someone is doing the increasing), увеличиваться describes the state change of the subject itself.

С каждым днём спрос на электромобили продолжает увеличиваться по всему миру.

Negative Constructions
In negative sentences, the object often shifts to the Genitive case (кого/чего) to emphasize the lack of increase or the rejection of the process.

Компания решила не увеличивать цен на свои услуги в этом праздничном сезоне.

In formal writing, увеличивать is preferred over more colloquial terms like поднимать (to lift/raise) when discussing statistics. It sounds precise and objective. For example, a report would say 'увеличивать эффективность' rather than 'делать работу лучше'. This precision is what makes it a B1-level necessity; it allows you to move beyond simple descriptions into professional and academic discourse.

Новые технологии позволяют увеличивать скорость передачи данных без потери качества сигнала.

If you find yourself in a Russian-speaking city, you will encounter увеличивать in various real-world scenarios. It is not just a word for textbooks; it is integrated into the infrastructure of daily life. One of the most common places to hear it is in the context of customer service and retail, specifically regarding loyalty programs or service upgrades.

In the Bank or Office
When applying for a credit card or a loan, you might ask: 'Можно ли увеличивать кредитный лимит?' (Is it possible to increase the credit limit?). In an office, your boss might discuss 'увеличивать штат' (increasing the staff/hiring more people).

Банк начал увеличивать процентные ставки по вкладам, что очень выгодно для вкладчиков.

In News and Media
Tune into a Russian news broadcast like 'Vesti' or 'Channel One,' and you will hear reporters discussing how the government aims to увеличивать social benefits or how the city is увеличивать the number of parks. It is the language of progress and policy.

В новостях сказали, что городские власти будут увеличивать количество автобусов на маршрутах в часы пик.

In the academic sphere, lecturers use it constantly. Whether it's a physics class talking about увеличивать силу трения (increasing the force of friction) or a history class discussing how empires увеличивали свои территории (increased their territories), the word is a structural pillar of educational Russian. It allows for the description of cause-and-effect relationships where one action leads to the growth of another variable.

Профессор объяснил, как увеличивать точность измерений при проведении лабораторного эксперимента.

In Sports and Fitness
Fitness instructors often tell their clients to увеличивать нагрузку (increase the load/intensity) or увеличивать дистанцию (increase the distance) of their runs. Here, the word is motivational and directed toward self-improvement.

Тренер посоветовал мне увеличивать количество повторений, чтобы мышцы росли быстрее.

Lastly, in the kitchen or during home repairs, you might hear it. 'Нужно увеличивать огонь' (Need to increase the heat/flame) or 'Нам нужно увеличивать площадь кухни' (We need to increase the kitchen area). It is a word that describes the human desire to expand, improve, and intensify their surroundings.

Если ты хочешь, чтобы вода закипела быстрее, тебе стоит увеличивать мощность плиты до максимума.

Learning увеличивать comes with several pitfalls that even intermediate students often tumble into. The most frequent error is the confusion between увеличивать (to increase something) and повышать (to raise something). While they are often synonyms, they are not always interchangeable. Увеличивать usually refers to size, quantity, or volume, whereas повышать often refers to quality, level, or rank.

Mistake 1: Confusing with 'Повышать'
Students often say 'увеличивать квалификацию' (increase qualification). While understandable, the correct phrase is повышать квалификацию because qualification is a 'level' or 'quality', not a physical amount.

Неправильно: Мы хотим увеличивать качество жизни. Правильно: Мы хотим повышать качество жизни.

Mistake 2: Intransitive vs. Transitive
A common grammatical error is forgetting the reflexive suffix -ся. If the subject is increasing on its own (e.g., prices are increasing), you must use увеличиваться. If you use увеличивать, the listener is waiting for you to say *what* you are increasing.

Неправильно: Цены увеличивают каждый день. (This means prices are increasing something else). Правильно: Цены увеличиваются каждый день.

Another subtle mistake involves the use of prepositions. Some learners use 'на' when they mean 'in' (factor of). If you say 'увеличить на два раза', it is grammatically weird. You should say 'увеличить в два раза' (to double) or 'увеличить на два пункта' (to increase by two points). Mixing these up can lead to significant mathematical misunderstandings in a business context.

Ошибка: Он хочет увеличивать продажи на три раза. Правильно: Он хочет увеличивать продажи в три раза.

Mistake 3: Overuse in Casual Speech
While not a 'error' per se, using увеличивать for everything can make you sound like a robot or a bureaucrat. In casual settings, Russians might use добавлять (to add) or прибавлять (to add/increase speed/volume). Using the scientific term for turning up the TV might sound slightly odd.

Естественнее: Прибавь звук, я ничего не слышу! (Instead of: Увеличивай громкость звука).

Finally, watch out for the stress. It stays on the second 'и'. Shifting the stress to the 'у' or the end of the word is a common phonological mistake that can make the word hard to recognize for native speakers. Consistent practice with the rhythmic pattern у-ве-ЛИ-чи-вать will help you avoid this.

Russian is a language rich in synonyms, and увеличивать has several cousins that you should know to sound more natural and precise. Each of these words carries a specific 'flavor' or is used in particular contexts. Understanding these nuances is what separates a B1 learner from a C1 expert.

Повышать vs. Увеличивать
Повышать is for 'raising' levels, quality, or abstract values (like temperature or status). Увеличивать is for 'enlarging' physical size or numerical quantity. You повышаете голос (raise your voice) but увеличиваете громкость (increase volume).

Нам нужно повышать стандарты образования и увеличивать количество школ в сельской местности.

Расширять (To Expand)
Расширять literally means 'to make wider'. It is used for roads, horizons, circles of friends, or a range of products. While увеличивать is general, расширять specifically implies growth in breadth or scope.

Чтение книг помогает расширять кругозор и увеличивать словарный запас.

Another important alternative is умножать (to multiply). This is used when the increase is significant and results from a compounding effect. In a poetic or philosophical sense, one might умножать добро (multiply goodness). In mathematics, it is the literal term for multiplication. If you want to emphasize that the increase is happening in many places at once, плодить (to breed/multiply rapidly) might be used, though it often carries a negative connotation (e.g., multiplying bureaucracy).

Мы должны умножать наши усилия, а не просто увеличивать рабочие часы.

Прибавлять (To Add/Increase)
This is the go-to word for 'adding a little more'. It's used for speed (прибавлять газу), weight (прибавлять в весе), or sound. It feels more dynamic and less formal than увеличивать.

После праздников многие начинают прибавлять в весе из-за обилия вкусной еды.

By learning these alternatives, you gain the ability to choose the perfect word for the occasion. Whether you want to sound like a scientist, a businessman, or a friend chatting over tea, knowing which 'increase' to use will make your Russian far more expressive and accurate.

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Examples by Level

1

Я хочу увеличивать это фото на экране.

I want to increase (zoom in) this photo on the screen.

Direct object 'фото' is in the Accusative case.

2

Пожалуйста, не увеличивай громкость.

Please, do not increase the volume.

Imperative form (negative) used here.

3

Мы увеличиваем масштаб карты.

We are increasing the scale of the map.

Present tense, first person plural.

4

Он любит увеличивать картинки в книге.

He likes to increase (enlarge) pictures in the book.

Infinitive after the verb 'любить'.

5

Ты увеличиваешь яркость монитора?

Are you increasing the brightness of the monitor?

Present tense, second person singular question.

6

Она начала увеличивать текст в письме.

She started to increase the text (font) in the letter.

Infinitive after the verb 'начать'.

7

Они увеличивают размер окна на компьютере.

They are increasing the size of the window on the computer.

Present tense, third person plural.

8

Нам нужно увеличивать изображение.

We need to increase the image.

Infinitive used with the impersonal construction 'нам нужно'.

1

Я буду увеличивать время на изучение слов.

I will increase the time for studying words.

Future tense (compound) using 'буду' + infinitive.

2

Мама решила увеличивать порции на ужин.

Mom decided to increase the portions for dinner.

Infinitive used after the past tense verb 'решила'.

3

Ты можешь увеличивать скорость бега постепенно.

You can increase your running speed gradually.

The adverb 'постепенно' (gradually) describes how to increase.

4

Мы хотим увеличивать наш сад каждый год.

We want to increase (expand) our garden every year.

The phrase 'каждый год' shows a repeated action, fitting for imperfective.

5

Врачи советуют увеличивать количество воды.

Doctors advise increasing the amount of water.

Infinitive used as an object of advice.

6

Он начал увеличивать свои прогулки в парке.

He started increasing his walks in the park.

Accusative plural 'свои прогулки'.

7

Почему ты не хочешь увеличивать этот шрифт?

Why don't you want to increase this font?

Negative question with 'почему'.

8

Они увеличивают количество уроков в неделю.

They are increasing the number of lessons per week.

Present tense, third person plural.

1

Нам нужно увеличивать прибыль нашей компании.

We need to increase our company's profit.

A common business collocation: 'увеличивать прибыль'.

2

Завод будет увеличивать производство на пять процентов.

The factory will increase production by five percent.

Use of 'на' + Accusative for the amount of increase.

3

Микроскоп позволяет увеличивать объекты в сто раз.

The microscope allows for increasing (magnifying) objects a hundred times.

Use of 'в' + Accusative for proportional increase.

4

Государство планирует увеличивать пенсии в следующем году.

The state plans to increase pensions next year.

Formal context: government policy.

5

Мы должны увеличивать наши знания постоянно.

We must increase our knowledge constantly.

Abstract use: 'увеличивать знания'.

6

Ты не должен увеличивать давление на своих коллег.

You should not increase the pressure on your colleagues.

Metaphorical use: 'увеличивать давление'.

7

Они начали увеличивать штат сотрудников в отделе.

They started increasing the staff count in the department.

Collocation: 'увеличивать штат'.

8

Как можно увеличивать эффективность этой системы?

How can one increase the efficiency of this system?

Impersonal question using 'можно'.

1

Разработчики стараются увеличивать производительность приложения.

Developers are trying to increase the app's performance.

Technical term: 'производительность' (performance/productivity).

2

Городские власти решили увеличивать количество парковочных мест.

City authorities decided to increase the number of parking spaces.

Formal administrative context.

3

Экономисты спорят, стоит ли увеличивать налоги сейчас.

Economists are arguing whether it's worth increasing taxes now.

Infinitive used with 'стоит ли' (is it worth).

4

Мы будем постепенно увеличивать интенсивность тренировок.

We will gradually increase the intensity of the workouts.

Adverb 'постепенно' qualifies the process.

5

Многие страны стремятся увеличивать долю возобновляемой энергии.

Many countries strive to increase the share of renewable energy.

Collocation: 'увеличивать долю' (increase the share).

6

Не стоит увеличивать значимость этой мелкой проблемы.

It's not worth increasing the significance of this minor problem.

Abstract concept: 'увеличивать значимость'.

7

Компания продолжает увеличивать своё присутствие на рынке.

The company continues to increase its market presence.

Business idiom: 'увеличивать присутствие'.

8

Она пыталась увеличивать дистанцию между собой и прошлым.

She tried to increase the distance between herself and the past.

Highly metaphorical use.

1

Необходимо постоянно увеличивать инвестиционную привлекательность региона.

It is necessary to constantly increase the investment attractiveness of the region.

High-level economic/political terminology.

2

Учёные ищут способы увеличивать срок службы батарей.

Scientists are looking for ways to increase the service life of batteries.

Collocation: 'увеличивать срок службы'.

3

Автор мастерски умеет увеличивать напряжение в каждой главе.

The author masterfully knows how to increase the tension in every chapter.

Literary context: 'увеличивать напряжение' (increase tension).

4

Нам нельзя увеличивать риск экологической катастрофы.

We must not increase the risk of an environmental disaster.

Serious social/ethical context.

5

Реклама призвана увеличивать потребительский спрос на товары.

Advertising is designed to increase consumer demand for goods.

Passive construction 'призвана' + infinitive.

6

Оратор старался увеличивать эмоциональное воздействие на аудиторию.

The speaker tried to increase the emotional impact on the audience.

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