Used as a noun meaning an increase in amount, number, or degree. Often appears in compounds or formal contexts.
The increase in population is becoming a problem.
Apply for a budget increase.
The number of visitors this year was up by 10,000 compared to last year.
Sales rose by 5% compared to the previous year.
増 (ぞう, 'increase') and 象 (ぞう, 'elephant') are pronounced identically but are completely unrelated in meaning, so context or kanji must disambiguate them.
The kanji 増 means 'increase' and is used in many compounds. The reading ぞう is the on'yomi.
amplification (electrical) · magnification; enlargement; amplification (general)
increase and decrease; fluctuation
promotion; increase; advancement
increase in an amount of money; raise; hike
reinforcement; reinforcements
sharp increase; surge; explosion
staff increase; hiring more people
rising water; high water; increased water level
building addition; extension; adding a room
increase in production; production increase
growing impudent; becoming arrogant; getting stuck-up · becoming more severe; increasing (of negative things)
special issue; extra number
hair replacement; hair restoration
capital increase; increase of capital · issue of new shares; share issuance
additional printing; reprint; additional print run
increase in revenue; increase in yield
enlargement; supplementation; augmentation
slight increase; marginal rise
increase in profit; profit growth
worsening; exacerbation; aggravation
net increase