ENGLISH
REFERENCE

exponential

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˌɛkspoʊˈnɛnʃəɫ// UK //ˌɛkspənˈɛnʃəl// ex·po·nen·tial

adj. describing a rate of change that becomes faster and faster over time. You use it when a small increase quickly turns into a very large one.

adj. relating to an increase that becomes more rapid in proportion to the growing total number or size. Often describes growth patterns in mathematics, biology, or finance.


SIMPLE

The company saw exponential growth in its first year.

CONTEXTUAL

The virus spread at an exponential rate because each infected person passed it to several others.

COMPLEX

While linear progress is easy to predict, exponential shifts in technology often catch society off guard because the most dramatic changes occur in the final stages of the cycle.

Origin

From exponent + -ial.

Usage

Commonly modifies nouns like 'growth', 'increase', or 'rise'.

Pitfall

an exponential of growthexponential growthIn general English, the word is almost always used as an adjective to modify a noun, not as a noun itself.

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