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

Mejia said he is running for reelection on his track record of increasing transparency and accountability by performing audits and creating dashboards that show spending on public safety, affordable housing and homelessness.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

S&P Global’s survey showed lengthening delivery times and input costs increasing at a rate not seen since the post-pandemic related price surges of 2022.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Squeezing redistributes this uncertainty by making one property more precise while increasing uncertainty in the other.

From Science Daily • May 1, 2026

A statement from the chain's Japanese owners echoed warnings from hospitality industry bodies in the UK, which have pointed to increasing pressure from rising business rates, energy and labour costs.

From BBC • May 1, 2026

With her laserlike focus on experimental studies, she had been taking photograph after photograph of DNA—each with increasing clarity.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Related Words

• accelerating
• deepening
• escalating
• growing
• intensifying