exponentially

[ek-spoh-nen-shuh-lee, ‐spuh‐]

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.

Other Word Forms

• nonexponentially adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of exponentially¹

exponential ( def. ) + -ly