// resume power verbs

Another word for "Increase" on a resume

"Increase" is the default verb for anything that went up, so recruiters see it dozens of times per stack of resumes and stop registering it. Stating that a number rose isn't the same as showing what you did to move it. A verb that names the lever you pulled — paired with the metric — reads as a deliberate win rather than a lucky trend.

Why "increase" weakens your resume

"Increase" describes the outcome but skips the action, so it reads as something that happened rather than something you caused. Recruiters can't tell whether you engineered the gain or simply reported it. Verbs like "Grow," "Generate," or "Expand" name your contribution, and the number proves the size of it. ATS keyword matching also rewards active, specific verbs over generic result words, so pairing the right verb with a hard figure works on both readers — human and machine.

20 stronger words for "increase"

Grow

when you expanded revenue, users, or headcount over a period of time

Expand

when you widened scope, market coverage, or capacity

Accelerate

when you sped up the rate at which a metric climbed

Boost

when you produced a sharp, quantifiable jump in a number

Raise

when you lifted a rate, score, or standard to a higher level

Scale

when you increased output or capacity without proportional cost

Amplify

when you magnified the output of an existing channel or effect

Maximize

when you pushed a metric to its highest achievable level

Generate

when you created new volume of leads, revenue, or output from scratch

Double

when the metric grew exactly 2x — cite the literal figure

Triple

when the metric grew 3x — a concrete, credible claim

Multiply

when growth was several-fold and you can name the factor

Extend

when you lengthened reach, contract value, or customer tenure

Elevate

when you raised a qualitative measure such as rating or ranking

Propel

when a specific initiative pushed a metric sharply upward

Surpass

when you climbed past a target or prior record — name both

Outpace

when your growth beat a benchmark, competitor, or prior period

Strengthen

when you enlarged a base such as pipeline, margin, or reserves

Widen

when you increased a gap, margin, or spread in your favor

Build

when you grew something cumulatively over time, like a pipeline or audience

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Before / after: bullets that drop "increase"

  • Increase sales in my region.

    ✍️ Grow regional revenue 28% year over year by launching a referral program across 40 accounts.

  • Increase website traffic.

    ✍️ Expand organic traffic from 12K to 47K monthly visits through a 90-article SEO push.

  • Increase customer retention.

    ✍️ Raise 12-month retention from 71% to 88% by rebuilding the renewal workflow.

Frequently asked questions

Is "increase" a good word for a resume?

It's acceptable, but it describes the outcome without the action that produced it. "Increase" works best when replaced by a verb that names your contribution — Grow, Generate, Expand — with the metric kept intact. That reads as a deliberate achievement rather than a trend you observed.

What can I say instead of "increase" on a resume?

Match the verb to the lever: "Grow" for revenue or headcount over time, "Generate" for new volume created from scratch, "Accelerate" for a faster rate, "Raise" for a rate or score. Keep the number no matter which you choose.

Do I need a number every time I use an increase verb?

Nearly always. A growth verb without a figure is an unverifiable claim. If you genuinely can't share an exact number, use a range, a percentage, or a relative comparison — anything concrete beats a bare "increased."

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