German word

mehren

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈmeːʁən/

Meaning

  • verbincrease

Example

In letzter Zeit mehren sich die Beschwerden.

Lately, the complaints have been increasing.

Illustration for mehren (increase)

More examples

In den letzten Wochen mehren sich die Anfragen.

Over the last few weeks, the inquiries have grown.

Core concept

A container receives layer after layer until its contents visibly build up.

Common phrases

  • Gerüchte mehren sich

    Rumors grow

  • Anfragen mehren sich

    Inquiries grow

Similar words

zunehmen: A gradual increase in amount or number.
steigen: An upward movement in a number or rate.
wachsen: Gradual growth in scope or scale.
anwachsen: A gradual increase that makes a size or number larger.

Definition in German

(Verb) etwas an Zahl oder Menge erhöhen; oft reflexiv gebraucht, wobei sich mehren ‚zunehmen‘ bedeutet.

Word origin

Mehren continues the older German form meren, which is related to mehr and developed into the modern verb mehren.

Usage tips

  • Mehren often occurs with abstract nouns such as Beschwerden, Sorgen, or Zweifel, and sounds more formal than everyday zunehmen in many contexts.

Other meanings

  • augmentverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word