exponential function
Americannoun
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the function y = ex .
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any function of the form y = bax , where a and b are positive constants.
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any function in which a variable appears as an exponent and may also appear as a base, as y = x 2x .
Etymology
Origin of exponential function
First recorded in 1890–95
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At wide-open throttle, the raunchiness doesn’t come in wild quanta but in one smoothly linear, incredibly steep exponential function, with no interval for tactility and feedback.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2025
As we studied the exponential function, we saw that it is one-to-one as its graphs pass the horizontal line test.
From Textbooks ● May 6, 2020
Now we will see that many characteristics of the logarithm function are simply ’mirror images’ of the characteristics of the corresponding exponential function.
From Textbooks ● May 6, 2020
This means an exponential function does have an inverse.
From Textbooks ● May 6, 2020
We have found that man is an exponential function where time enters as an exponent.
From Manhood of Humanity. by Korzybski, Alfred
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
