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.

---

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

The partnership still remains in force, but in such a scenario of uncertainty, increasing investment in tennis makes strategic sense, say experts.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

Goldman Sachs affirms its expectations that the Treasury will begin increasing coupon auction sizes from May 2027, with eventual auction-size increases limited to two- to seven-year maturities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

The company has responded by increasing its diversification efforts.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

The researchers next investigated whether increasing BiP could compensate for the absence of p58IPK.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026

Mrs. Peters nudged her way past with increasing urgency.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng

Related Words

• accelerating
• deepening
• escalating
• growing
• intensifying