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

• exponentially adverb
• nonexponential adjective

Etymology

Origin of exponential

First recorded in 1695–1705; exponent + -ial

Example Sentences

OpenAI is set to generate $13 billion in revenue this year, meaning that it will have to continue growing sales at an exponential rate to pay for its computing needs.

From The Wall Street Journal

Instead, he painted a more optimistic picture, pointing to how investments in AI have already shown “truly exponential improvement in capabilities” and saying that future spending will “drive incredible improvements in capabilities.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The chart shows how it has been stuck below its 21-day exponential moving average the last three months.

From Barron's

The chart shows how it has been stuck below its 21-day exponential moving average the last three months.

From Barron's

The chart shows how it has been stuck below its 21-day exponential moving average the last three months.

From Barron's