spiral
noun
a plane curve generated by a point moving around a fixed point while constantly receding from or approaching it.
is spiralling
-
present progressiveof spiral (3rd person singular).present progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or state that is currently taking place in the immediate present.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"The ONS figures prove what retailers have long been telling us – that retail theft is spiralling out of control," said British Retailers Association director Tom Ironside.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2025
But others worry that this row is spiralling fast out of control.
From BBC ● May 30, 2024
"They say Gaza is spiralling out of control, but what is happening here scares me more," said Majd Abado, an Arab resident of Acre.
From Reuters ● May 13, 2021
Refugee anger is spiralling, but so too is exasperation among locals who at the height of the refugee drama saw more than 800,000 people traverse the island.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 22, 2017
Now, as cyberwar escalates across the globe, there are fears that the burgeoning trade in finding and selling exploits is spiralling out of control—spurring calls for new laws to rein in the murky trade.
From Slate ● Jan. 16, 2013
