increasingly

American  

[in-kree-sing-lee] / ɪnˈkri sɪŋ li /

adverb

1. to an ever greater degree; more and more: Marketers are increasingly using video to create meaningful emotional connections with their consumers.

   He became increasingly nervous and overwrought and began to suffer bouts of depression.

   Marketers are increasingly using video to create meaningful emotional connections with their consumers.

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Etymology

Origin of increasingly

increasing ( def. ) + -ly

Explanation

This adverb applies to anything that is happening more often, in greater numbers, or with greater intensity. An increasingly hot summer keeps getting hotter. To increase something is to add to it numerically, like increasing the size of your family by having a baby. Anything that happens increasingly is growing in some way. An increasingly depressed person keeps getting sadder. An increasingly sick patient keeps getting worse. An increasingly corrupt government is getting less and less honest. When you see this word, you know something is intensifying.

Example Sentences

In recent years, scientists have increasingly focused on the gut microbiome, the vast ecosystem of bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms living in the digestive system.

From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026

Liam Rosenior's position as Chelsea head coach is becoming increasingly uncertain following Tuesday's damaging 3-0 defeat by Brighton.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

Young Chinese, many who fear age discrimination in their workplace after turning 35, are increasingly starting "one-person companies" that have artificial intelligence do most of the work.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

The internet and wireless performances are increasingly linked as AT&T sells bundled offerings that also help reduce the rate of subscriber churn, or customers leaving the company’s network.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

Between 1949 and 1961, one out of every six East Germans had fled the GDR, escaping to the freedoms—and increasingly, the prosperity—of the West.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Related Words

• more
• more and more
• progressively