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

• increasingly
  adverb
• unincreasing
  adjective

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

"Once you hit that desperation point you start increasing it," she admitted.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

After increasing rapidly in recent years, streaming ad spending is projected to approach $20 billion by 2029, not far off linear TV ad spending, according to estimates from ad consulting firm Madison and Wall.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

Some airlines have raised fares, cut routes and hiked bag fees in response to increasing jet-fuel prices.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

Alan Greenspan, then-chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, argued for increasing the gas tax to as high as 30 cents a gallon—which would be roughly $2 in today’s dollars—to disincentivize gas consumption.

From Barron's • May 12, 2026

We course through the ground, steadily increasing in speed.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Related Words

• accelerating
• deepening
• escalating
• growing
• intensifying