augment

American  

[awg-ment, awg-ment] / ɔgˈmɛnt, ˈɔg mɛnt /

verb (used with object)

1. to make larger; enlarge in size, number, strength, or extent; increase.

   His salary is augmented by a small inheritance.

   Synonyms:

   swell

2. Music.

   1. to raise (the upper note of an interval or chord) by a half step.

   2. to double the note values of (a theme).

      In the fugue's development the subject is augmented.

3. Grammar. to add an augment to.

4. Heraldry. to grant an augmentation to (a coat of arms).

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verb (used without object)

1. to become larger.

   Synonyms:

   increase

noun

1. Grammar. a prefixed vowel or a lengthening of the initial vowel that characterizes certain forms in the nonpresent inflection of verbs in Greek, Sanskrit, Armenian, and Phrygian.

augment British  

verb

1. to make or become greater in number, amount, strength, etc; increase

2. (tr) music to increase (a major or perfect interval) by a semitone Compare diminish

3. (tr) (in Greek and Sanskrit grammar) to prefix a vowel or diphthong to (a verb) to form a past tense

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noun

1. (in Greek and Sanskrit grammar) a vowel or diphthong prefixed to a verb to form a past tense

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

• augmentable adjective
• augmentor noun
• unaugmentable adjective
• unaugmented adjective

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!"

Example Sentences

The fancy buckets are expensive to produce, but Cinemark considers them worthwhile because they augment popcorn and soda sales, he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

Dubbed Project Ibex, after the long-horned mountain goat, the vehicles are an experiment by the tech company to potentially augment the fleet of box trucks and vans.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

Investors who want to monetize nervous market sentiment and the current demand for hedging can augment the bull spread with a short put on the ETF.

From Barron's • Mar. 4, 2026

The question becomes: How can market participants use this to augment their work?

From MarketWatch • Feb. 25, 2026

Finally, Colonel Meecham began his descent, every step a deliberate one, tortoise-slow, designed to augment the impatience of his giddily avaricious offspring.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

Related Words

• add to
• amplify
• boost
• build up
• develop
• enhance
• enlarge
• expand
• heighten
• inflate
• intensify
• multiply
• reinforce
• strengthen