exponential

American  

[ek-spoh-nen-shuhl, -spuh-] / ˌɛk spoʊˈnɛn ʃəl, -spə- /

adjective

1. of or relating to an exponent or exponents.

2. Mathematics.

   1. of or relating to the constant e.

   2. (of an equation) having one or more unknown variables in one or more exponents.

3. rising or expanding at a steady, rapid rate.

   a city experiencing exponential growth.

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noun

1. Mathematics.

   1. the constant e raised to the power equal to a given expression, as e 3 x, which is the exponential of 3 x.

   2. any positive constant raised to a power.

exponential British  

/ ˌɛkspəʊˈnɛnʃəl /

adjective

1. maths (of a function, curve, series, or equation) of, containing, or involving one or more numbers or quantities raised to an exponent, esp e x

2. exp. maths raised to the power of e, the base of natural logarithms

3. of or involving an exponent or exponents

4. informal very rapid

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noun

1. maths an exponential function, etc

exponential Scientific  

/ ĕk′spə-nĕn′shəl /

1. Relating to a mathematical expression containing one or more exponents.

2. ◆ Something is said to increase or decrease exponentially if its rate of change must be expressed using exponents. A graph of such a rate would appear not as a straight line, but as a curve that continually becomes steeper or shallower.

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Other Word Forms

• nonexponential
  adjective
• exponentially
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of exponential

First recorded in 1695–1705; exponent + -ial

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Explanation

Exponential describes a very rapid increase. An exponential rise in the number of first graders with head lice might be a result of all the hat sharing that's gone on lately. Exponential is also a mathematical term, meaning "involving an exponent." When you raise a number to the tenth power, for example, that's an exponential increase in that number. When your next door neighbor describes the exponential growth of her rose bushes or the exponential increase in members of her book group, she means that there's been a sharp, fast expansion of both things.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

exponential

This exponential move is explained by the record-breaking tanker rates resulting from disruptions to energy shipments in the Strait of Hormuz over the last six months.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026

The Martha’s Vineyard Hospital has tallied an exponential rise in positive alpha-gal tests — 692 this year through August, compared with 742 last year, and up from only two in 2020.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

With the advent of AI and quantum computing it is only going to go on changing, and in some areas, at exponential speed.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

The exponential growth means a few things, a spokeswoman for the company says.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Were I not, then my growth would be exponential.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman

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