# increasingly

/ɪnˈkɹisɪŋɡɫi/ (US) · /ɪnkɹˈiːsɪŋli/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/increasingly
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

more and more as time goes on. You use it to describe a situation that is growing or changing steadily.

For teachers: to an escalating degree or in a manner that shows steady growth over time.

## Examples

- The weather is becoming increasingly cold.
- As the deadline approached, the team found it increasingly difficult to stay focused on the minor details.
- In an increasingly globalized economy, local businesses must find unique ways to differentiate their services from international competitors who benefit from massive economies of scale.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The problem is increasing difficult" but "The problem is increasingly difficult" — Learners often use the participle 'increasing' as an adverb; 'increasingly' is required to modify an adjective.

## Usage notes

- Typically placed before the adjective or adverb it modifies, or before the main verb.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.