øke

Øke is a Norwegian verb meaning to increase, to raise, or to make larger. It describes a growth in quantity, level, intensity, or degree, and it can be used both transitively (with an object) and intransitively (without an object).

Conjugation: infinitive å øke; presens øker; preteritum økte; perfektum participium økt. The present perfect is formed with har økt, as in prisene har økt. The verb also appears in related participial forms such as økt used as an adjective in phrases like økt produksjon.

Usage: Intransitive usage can describe a rising state of something, for example prisene øker (prices are increasing). Transitive usage takes a direct object, as in å øke prisen (to increase the price) or å øke produksjonen (to increase production). The verb is common in economics, budgeting, policy, and science contexts, and is often found in combinations such as øke kapasiteten (increase capacity) or øke risikoen (increase the risk).

Etymology: The Norwegian øke traces to Old Norse økja, and is related to Danish øge. The development reflects a common Germanic root meaning “to increase,” with cognates appearing in related Scandinavian languages.

Notes: In everyday Norwegian, øke is a core verb for describing growth, inflation, investment, and other changes in scale. It can pair with various nouns to express upward change, and its past forms are økte (preterite) and økt (supine and past participle).