Word
linearly
Phoneticslin·ear·ly
US/ˈɫɪniɝɫi/
UK/lˈɪniəli/
Definition
adv. in a straight line or in a way that follows a simple, direct pattern. You use this to describe things that increase or decrease at a steady rate.
adv. in a straight line or in a manner that follows a direct, proportional relationship. Often describes mathematical functions or physical processes where the output is directly proportional to the input.
Examples
“The cost of the tickets increases linearly with the number of people.”
“The scientist observed that the temperature of the liquid rose linearly as the heat was applied.”
“While the initial growth of the bacteria was linearly proportional to the available nutrients, the rate eventually slowed as the environment became saturated with waste products.”
Examples
simple
“The cost of the tickets increases linearly with the number of people.”
contextual
“The scientist observed that the temperature of the liquid rose linearly as the heat was applied.”
complex
“While the initial growth of the bacteria was linearly proportional to the available nutrients, the rate eventually slowed as the environment became saturated with waste products.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “linearly” in context.
Verb
01. linearly increase
“The cost of the project will linearly increase as more resources are added to the team.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“The story unfolds linearly, but your choices still matter in the complex missions.” “But performance on the Ultra chips has never scaled perfectly linearly with the number of cores, and the M5 Ultra is the same way.” Etymology
From linear + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/linearly