Showing results for "increasing"

• present participle of increase.

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

• unincreasing
  adjective
• increasingly
  adverb

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

The findings suggest that simply increasing fruit and vegetable intake may not be enough.

From Science Daily • Jun. 19, 2026

Large international events like the World Cup, combined with increasing measles transmission, “create favorable conditions for the spread of the disease,” warned the Pan American Health Organization, a United Nations-backed health agency.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2026

The politician set to remain as Jersey's chief minister has pledged to help tackle the cost of living, encourage more investment and continue increasing housing supply.

From BBC • Jun. 19, 2026

There is plenty of space for the longevity market to grow too, with increasing access to newer products like peptides and GLP-1s, even if some new categories do require government approval for widespread use.

From Barron's • Jun. 18, 2026

Besides increasing advisors, he had authorized the spraying of highly toxic Agent Orange and other defoliants to destroy enemy cover in the jungle, as well as rice crops in areas controlled by the Viet Cong.

From "Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam" by Elizabeth Partridge

Related Words

• accelerating
• deepening
• escalating
• growing
• intensifying