augment

[awg-ment, awg-ment]

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).

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

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

noun

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of augment¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of augment¹

C15: from Late Latin augmentāre to increase, from augmentum growth, from Latin augēre to increase

Example Sentences

The drone display shows a clear direction that China wants to take with its military strategy, where it "not only wants to augment, but replace traditional structures".

From BBC

Area fire departments have said they are prepositioning resources and augmenting staffing.

From Los Angeles Times

The verdant flora augments its cinematographic impressiveness, although set design homages to iconic futuristic thrillers, including Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” and Scott’s other classic, “Blade Runner,” are a welcome touch.

From Salon

The roughly 80 workers the union represents in Massachusetts will now be augmented by 37 workers at the four new union stores in California.

From Los Angeles Times

Often, the man’s callous irresponsibility would trigger a response that would snowball into something “unhinged,” intentionally augmented for dramatic effect.

From Salon

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.