Increasingly: Meaning, Usage, and Examples

Meaning 1：more and more over time (increasingly)

increasingly 🔊

/ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli/

adv.

Used to say that something is happening more and more over time.

Increasingly rising thermometer illustration showing gradual temperature increase over time

more and more over time 🔊

➕

/mɔːr ænd mɔːr ˈoʊvər taɪm/

adv.

Used to indicate that something is happening or becoming true to a greater degree as time passes.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From 'increase' (Latin 'increscere': in- 'into' + crescere 'grow') + -ly adverb suffix.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a graph line that keeps going up: 'in' + 'crease' (grow) + 'ly' = 'more and more'.

📖 Example

People are increasingly interested in buying electric cars to help the environment. 🔊 More and more people are becoming interested in buying electric cars to help the environment.

🔗 Collocations

become increasingly clear – become more and more obvious

increasingly popular – gaining more and more popularity

increasingly important – more and more significant

🔄 Synonyms

progressively (adv.) – In a gradual way, step by step.

gradually (adv.) – In a slow, steady manner over time.

steadily (adv.) – Continuously and at a constant rate.

🚫 Antonyms

decreasingly (adv.) – Becoming less and less over time.

slowly (adv.) – At a low speed, not necessarily increasing.

🌱 Derivatives

increase (v./n.) – To become or make greater in size, amount, or degree.

increasable (adj.) – Capable of being increased.

📖 Cultural Story

The adverb 'increasingly' emerged in the 17th century, evolving from the verb 'increase'. It gained frequency in modern English to express gradual growth, especially in academic, economic, and technological contexts.