Increasing

ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ

verbBeginner🔥Very CommonAction
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase2 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Becoming greater in size, amount, or intensity; growing.

ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ

verbneutralBeginner
Action

becoming greater in size, amount, or intensity

The number of students in the class is increasing.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're adding more and more scoops of ice cream to your cone. The ice cream is *increasing* in size! It means something is getting bigger or more.

👶 For kids: Getting bigger or more.

More Examples

2

As the temperature rises, the risk of wildfires is increasing.

3

We are seeing increasing demand for electric vehicles.

How It's Used

Economics

"Increasing interest rates can slow down economic growth."

Business

"Increasing sales figures are a positive sign for the company."

2

Becoming greater or more numerous.

ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ

adjectiveneutralmedium
Descriptive

becoming greater in size, amount, or intensity

Increasingly, technology is becoming integrated into our lives.

💡 Simply: When something is *increasing*, it's getting more and more common or frequent. Like, it's becoming increasingly popular to watch movies at home instead of going to the cinema.

👶 For kids: Getting more and more!

More Examples

2

He found the situation increasingly difficult.

3

The company is experiencing increasing profits.

How It's Used

General

"Increasingly, people are using smartphones for their daily tasks."

Science

"The increasingly acidic ocean is harming marine life."

Tip:Think of an increase in the number of points in a game; the points are increasingly a problem for the losing side!

Idioms & expressions

increasingly so

To a greater and greater degree or extent.

"The problems are becoming increasingly so."

From Middle English *encresing, present participle of encresen ('to increase'), from Old French encreistre ('to increase'), from Latin crescere ('to grow').

The word has been in use since Middle English. Early uses often referred to growth in physical size or number.

Memory tip

Think of adding more and more to a pile – it's increasing!

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to grow"

increasing demandincreasingly difficultincreasing profitsincreasingly popularincreasingly important

Common misspellings

increacingincreeasingincresing

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written