Showing results for "increasing"

• present participle of increase.

increasing

American  

[in-kree-sing] / ɪnˈkri sɪŋ /

adjective

1. growing larger or greater; enlarging; augmenting.

2. Mathematics. (of a function) having the property that for any two points in the domain such that one is larger than the other, the image of the larger point is greater than or equal to the image of the smaller point; nondecreasing.

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Usage

What does increasing mean? Increasing is an adjective that means growing or rising—becoming greater or more in number, amount, size, or in some other way. It comes from the continuous tense (-ing form) of the verb increase, which means to become greater or more in number, amount, size, or in some other way, as in Our profits will increase as demand increases. The word increased can also be used as an adjective to describe things that have risen or grown, as in an increased appetite. Example: The increasing value of the dollar.

Other Word Forms

• unincreasing
  adjective
• increasingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of increasing

First recorded in 1590–1600; see origin at increase, -ing ²

Explanation

Increasing means getting bigger or expanding. You'll be glad to have an increasing income, but perhaps less glad to have an increasing pants size. The adjective increasing describes anything that grows or becomes greater. Increasing volume from your neighbor's radio will drive you crazy, since it's getting louder and louder. If your tiny school attracts increasing numbers of new students, it's likely that new teachers will need to be hired. Increasing comes from the verb increase, or grow, with its Latin root word, increscere, "to grow upon, grow over, swell, or grow into."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

increasing

For Scott Findlay, who runs his own window cleaning firm, the rising cost of living was an increasing issue.

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

We are increasing readiness against existing threats, and the United States has on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

For years, scientists tested whether increasing antioxidants could help fight cancer by reducing reactive oxygen species.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026

Premium has higher margins for the companies, and it plays on consumers’ increasing interest in experiences, Leskinen says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

Walter’s release coincided with increased media interest in the death penalty, triggered by the increasing pace of executions.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

Related Words

• accelerating
• deepening
• escalating
• growing
• intensifying