grew increasingly

USAGE SUMMARY

"grew increasingly" is a perfectly acceptable expression that can be used in written English.
You could use it in a sentence such as: "He grew increasingly frustrated with the slow pace of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Nashir grew increasingly vehement.

The New Yorker

May grew increasingly unhappy.

The New Yorker

The pace grew increasingly frantic.

The New York Times

The bodyguard grew increasingly concerned.

The New Yorker

Movements grew increasingly jagged.

The New York Times

Events grew increasingly odd.

The New York Times - Arts

Harry grew increasingly melancholic and withdrawn.

The New Yorker

And Mr. Jarrett grew increasingly cranky.

The New York Times - Arts

He grew increasingly harsh toward political dissidents.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He grew increasingly depressed, even suicidal.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Toby grows increasingly annoyed.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grew increasingly" to describe gradual changes in a state, feeling, or condition. For example, "The audience grew increasingly restless as the speaker continued beyond the allotted time."

Common error

While "grew increasingly" is a valid phrase, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your sentence structure by using synonyms such as "became more" or "progressed to" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grew increasingly" functions as a linking verb phrase, connecting a subject with a description of its evolving state. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically sound. For example, "He grew increasingly frustrated," where "grew increasingly" links "He" to his evolving state of frustration.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Encyclopedias

13%

Science

6%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "grew increasingly" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to describe a gradual change over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common phrase, particularly in news, encyclopedias and media contexts, to indicate a steady progression. While authoritative, writers should be mindful of potential overuse and consider using synonyms like "became progressively" or "evolved into" to maintain variety in writing. With careful usage, "grew increasingly" effectively conveys a sense of continuous development or change.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became progressively

Emphasizes the step-by-step nature of the change, similar to the original phrase.

evolved into

Suggests a transformation over time, focusing on the end result.

developed into

Highlights a more structured and planned progression.

turned more and more

A more informal way of indicating a gradual change in condition.

shifted towards

Indicates a change in direction or focus, becoming more aligned with something else.

escalated to

Implies a rapid or dramatic increase in intensity.

intensified and

Emphasizes an increase in strength, force, or degree.

expanded considerably

Focuses on a significant increase in size, scope, or extent.

waxed ever more

Uses a somewhat archaic term to indicate an increase, more literary in tone.

rose substantially

Indicates a measurable and significant increase in quantity or degree.

FAQs

How can I use "grew increasingly" in a sentence?

The phrase "grew increasingly" is used to describe a gradual change over time. For example, "As the project neared its deadline, the team "grew increasingly anxious"."

What are some alternatives to "grew increasingly"?

You can use alternatives like "became progressively", "turned more and more", or "evolved into" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "grew more and more" instead of "grew increasingly"?

Both "grew increasingly" and "grew more and more" are grammatically correct. "Grew increasingly" is slightly more formal, while "grew more and more" is more conversational.

When should I use "grew increasingly" instead of a simpler phrase like "became more"?

Use "grew increasingly" when you want to emphasize the gradual and continuous nature of the change. It suggests a steady progression, which might be more nuanced than a simple ""became more"".