exponentially

American  

[ek-spoh-nen-shuh-lee, ‐spuh‐] / ˌɛk spoʊˈnɛn ʃə li, ‐spə‐ /

adverb

1. at a steady, rapid rate.

   The cost of a college education has increased exponentially over the last 30 years.

2. Mathematics. at a continuous rate of growth or decay that can be calculated using the constant e, according to the rules of raising e to the power of a positive or negative exponent.

   Any population growing exponentially must, sooner or later, encounter shortages of resources.

   The measurable rate at which a radioactive nuclide’s atoms decay exponentially is the basis of radiometric dating.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonexponentially
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of exponentially

exponential ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

Use exponentially when you want to say that something's increasing quickly by large amounts. Your friends and colleagues will be pleased to hear that your vocabulary is growing exponentially. The root of exponentially is the French verb exponere, meaning “to put out.” Think of a factory that puts out so many products its creations seem to increase exponentially. The mathematical origin of this word has to do with multiplying a number by itself so think also of rabbits, who are known for multiplying exponentially. Now imagine if rabbits worked in a factory... (No animals were harmed during this explanation).

Example Sentences

Once upon a time, a dynamic young entrepreneur came to him with a brilliant idea that, on paper, could revolutionize healthcare diagnoses and reduce costs exponentially.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026

"Over the past few months the group has grown exponentially," says Susanne Niess, of That's Cake by Susanne.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

The electrical field created by the device’s magnetic technology is exponentially greater than anything a shark would encounter naturally, so they instinctively avoid it.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

Then came SpaceX’s AI pivot, pushing its valuation exponentially higher.

From Barron's • May 7, 2026

“If you can commit to doing these drills, you will be building your craft exponentially and getting ahead of the competition,” he said.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad