augment
Americanverb (used with object)
-
augments,
present (3rd person singular)
-
augmented,
past participle, past
-
augmenting
present participle
-
to make larger; enlarge in size, number, strength, or extent; increase.
His salary is augmented by a small inheritance.
- Synonyms:
- swell
-
Music.
-
to raise (the upper note of an interval or chord) by a half step.
-
to double the note values of (a theme).
In the fugue's development the subject is augmented.
-
-
Grammar. to add an augment to.
-
Heraldry. to grant an augmentation to (a coat of arms).
verb (used without object)
-
augments,
present (3rd person singular)
-
augmented,
past participle, past
-
augmenting
present participle
noun
verb
-
to make or become greater in number, amount, strength, etc; increase
-
(tr) music to increase (a major or perfect interval) by a semitone Compare diminish
-
(tr) (in Greek and Sanskrit grammar) to prefix a vowel or diphthong to (a verb) to form a past tense
noun
Usage
What does augment mean? To augment something is to add to it in a way that makes it bigger or better. The general sense of augment is used in a variety of contexts where something is literally or figuratively increased in size, number, shape, value, or in some other way. A person might augment their salary with an additional source of income. A material like metal might be augmented to make it stronger. A teacher might augment a course’s textbook with additional learning materials. The noun augmentation refers to the process of augmenting something or the thing that augments. Things that augment or things that are intended to augment can be described as augmentative. A machine or device can be described as augmentable when other parts can be added to it to improve it in some way or give it additional functionality. Augment is also used in much more specific ways in the context of music and grammar, but its general sense is much more commonly used. Example: We recently augmented our nonfiction collection with many new titles by authors from marginalized communities.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
augmentsimple
-
augmentssimple
-
have augmentedperfect
-
has augmentedperfect
-
am augmentingprogressive
-
are augmentingprogressive
-
is augmentingprogressive
-
have been augmentingperfect progressive
-
has been augmentingperfect progressive
Past
-
augmentedsimple
-
had augmentedperfect
-
was augmentingprogressive
-
were augmentingprogressive
-
had been augmentingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of augment
First recorded in 1375–1475; late Middle English au(g)menten, from Anglo-French, Middle French au(g)menter, from Late Latin augmentāre “to increase,” derivative of augmentum “an increase,” from aug(ēre) “to increase” (akin to eke 1 ) + -mentum -ment )
Explanation
Do you need to make something bigger, better, or stronger? Then you need to augment it. To augment is to increase the amount or strength of something. Maybe your bike isn't getting around very well on hills: the bike needs to be augmented with a better set of tires. People augment their computers and phones all the time, adding new gadgets and apps. They augment the storage space in their cars by buying roof racks. If the President decides to augment taxes, taxes are going up. When you see the word augment, think "More!"
Vocabulary lists containing augment
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Tragedy of Macbeth
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," Vocabulary from Act 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Teleperformance, the world's largest call centre operator and one of the Philippines' biggest private employers, has said AI offers an opportunity to augment rather than replace its workforce.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department was working Tuesday to get approval from the state to augment staffing and pre-deploy resources, said Mike Gray, a public information officer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
When it steps outside its own borders, the country’s idealism can often augment its realism.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
Such old material does nothing to augment his current sources of hilarious inspiration, including updates on his bowel movements.
From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026
Many of the chemical agents in this alarming melange imitate and augment the harmful effects of radiation, and within the groups of chemicals themselves there are sinister and little-understood interactions, transformations, and summations of effect.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
In other words, will AI be a force that replaces labor, or augments it?
From MarketWatch ● May 18, 2026
The assets complement OCBC’s Indonesia franchise, particularly in wealth management, which is attractive in a low-interest-rate environment as it augments recurring income to cushion earnings as Singapore banks face NIM compression.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 5, 2026
Novo’s cautious C-suite was ready to target Type 2 diabetes—an obvious choice, as GLP-1 augments insulin secretion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 28, 2025
The live aspect of theater augments that feeling of destructive loss.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 10, 2025
“That’s amazing. My mother says they’re superhuman. Their second operation augments all their muscles and rewires their nervous system. And they’re so scary-looking, a lot of people just panic the first time they see one.”
From "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld
“The same AI-generated or augmented image can be a legitimate creative choice in one context and a trust violation in another.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026
The mobile app Pokémon Go, which is now celebrating its 10th anniversary, uses GPS and augmented reality to let players find and catch virtual monsters in real-world locations.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
Smart glasses are becoming more popular as augmented reality and artificial intelligence tech becomes more advanced.
From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026
“The smartphone put our lives in our pockets, but augmented reality puts computing into the world where life actually happens, and that is the shift from phones to Specs,” Spiegel said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
For example, if, in an augmented G sharp major chord, you rewrite the D double sharp as an E natural, the triad becomes an E augmented chord.
From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones
Preservation was part of the conversation when the two connected, but both were also focused on revitalization and augmenting the structure’s old-world charms with something fresh and modern.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 28, 2026
Lewenstein believes AI’s true promise lies in augmenting, not automating, human capabilities.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 29, 2025
His primary focus now, he says, is not on politics but on AI, which he has said is “like electrical current-invisible and augmenting almost every part of our lives.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2025
Blessedly, Season 3 makes room for glimpses into the locals’ lives beyond the hotel, augmenting the personal stakes for workers beyond the usual administrative staff whose prickliness co-stars in previous seasons.
From Salon ● Feb. 16, 2025
Diminishing and augmenting chords Wagner may have made his own, but they are all over Liszt’s daring, dark harmony.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
