augment
C1Formal, Technical, Academic
Definition
Meaning
To make something larger or greater by adding to it; to increase.
To enhance, intensify, or supplement something in size, amount, or effect. Can refer to data, sound, reality (via AR/VR), or capabilities.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies an addition that improves or completes. Often used in technical, strategic, or formal contexts. Not typically used for simple, everyday increases.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical in meaning and formality. The noun 'augmentation' is equally common.
Connotations
Slightly more common in American military and tech discourse (e.g., 'augmented reality', 'force augmentation').
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English, but the difference is minimal.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] augment [NP] (e.g., They augmented their income)[NP] augment [NP] with [NP] (e.g., She augmented the report with new data)be augmented by [NP] (e.g., The sound was augmented by a subwoofer)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Augmented reality (AR)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
To increase capital, staff, or market share; e.g., 'The company plans to augment its workforce before the launch.'
Academic
To add to a body of knowledge or data; e.g., 'The study augments previous research on climate models.'
Everyday
Rare in casual speech. Might be used for income or diet; e.g., 'He took a part-time job to augment his pension.'
Technical
Central in tech (augmented reality, data augmentation in AI), music (augmented chord), and linguistics (augmented syllable).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They used savings to augment their deposit for the house.
- The orchestra was augmented by a local choir for the finale.
American English
- She freelances to augment her regular income.
- The software augments standard video feeds with data overlays.
adverb
British English
- The grant was augmentedly small given the scope of the project. (Rare/Formal)
American English
- The system functioned augmentedly well after the upgrade. (Rare/Formal)
adjective
British English
- The musician played an augmented fifth.
- He received augmented responsibility after the promotion.
American English
- The strategy involved an augmented reality campaign.
- The patient had augmented breast tissue.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He found a second job to augment his salary.
- You can augment your diet with vitamins.
- The report was augmented with recent statistical evidence.
- Many museums now use apps to augment the visitor experience.
- The general argued for augmented troop levels in the region.
- Data augmentation techniques are crucial for training robust machine learning models.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'AUGment' like adding an 'AUGust' (grand, impressive) amount to something.
Conceptual Metaphor
BUILDING UP / ADDING LAYERS (e.g., augmenting an argument, augmenting a sound mix).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'аугментировать' (a techy neologism). Prefer 'увеличивать', 'пополнять', 'дополнять'.
- Do not confuse with 'argument' (спор, аргумент).
Common Mistakes
- Using it for trivial increases (e.g., 'I augmented the volume by one notch' – use 'turned up').
- Confusing spelling with 'argument'.
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'The profits augmented' – use 'increased' or 'grew').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'augment' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is not a high-frequency everyday word. It belongs to a more formal or technical register (C1 level).
'Augment' usually implies adding something external to make something greater, often improving it. 'Increase' is more general and can refer to internal growth (e.g., profits increased).
Rarely. The standard noun is 'augmentation' (e.g., breast augmentation, data augmentation).
No, it's also very common in machine learning (data augmentation), music theory (augmented chord), and medicine (e.g., augmented cognition).