increasingly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "increasingly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a gradual rise or growth in a particular quality, condition, or situation over time. Example: "The weather has been increasingly unpredictable this year, with more frequent storms and temperature fluctuations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"This acquisition allows us to secure a large, global platform on which to distribute our increasingly successful original programming through a collection of strong, well-established and well-managed assets worldwide".

The New York Times

"We are concerned that this development may have an increasingly negative impact on the threat situation in Norway".

The New York Times

In what appeared to be pointed criticism of increasingly firm rhetoric from Cameron on multinational tax engineering, Carr insisted tax avoidance "cannot be about morality – there are no absolutes".

The Guardian - Tech

"I said it was increasingly dangerous for asylum seekers on the island and the humane policy should be to bring them to Darwin from Christmas Island for processing," she said.

The Guardian

One of the things that's increasingly clear about the way financial markets work is that the order in which events occur matters quite a bit.

The Economist

In 2006 Lord Phillips, then lord chief justice, argued that politicians and judges had been pushed into handing down increasingly long sentences in England and Wales.

The Guardian

It is also, of course, a universal rather than a means-tested benefit in an age when universal benefits are increasingly questioned.

The Guardian - Opinion

James Leaton, at the Carbon Tracker Initiative, which produced the first list of 200, said concerned investors could focus on an increasingly small number of companies.

The Guardian

Over the course of the past five years Britain's electorate has become increasingly fragmented.

The Guardian

Departures year-round For many the Falklands will always conjure up images of war, but today they are increasingly a venue for tourism.

The Guardian - Travel

An eight-month inquiry by the all party group on mindfulness found frontline public servants could be less likely to fall ill with stress, or quit altogether, if they engage in the increasingly popular meditation practice which involves increasing awareness of the present moment to help control anxiety and depression.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "increasingly", ensure that the subject it modifies can logically undergo a process of increase. For instance, "increasingly difficult" makes sense, while "increasingly table" does not.

Common error

Avoid using "increasingly" with adjectives that don't express a degree or scale. For example, it's incorrect to say "increasingly dead" because something is either dead or not; there's no in-between state to increase.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "increasingly" primarily functions as an intensifier, modifying adjectives or adverbs to indicate a growing degree or frequency. Ludwig provides various examples where "increasingly" enhances the meaning of words like 'dangerous', 'clear', and 'difficult'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "increasingly" functions as an adverb to indicate a growing degree or frequency, as supported by Ludwig's analysis. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically sound. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, conveying progression or escalation. When using "increasingly", ensure it modifies gradable adjectives to avoid errors. Alternatives include "more and more" and "progressively", each offering a subtle shift in emphasis. With its versatile nature, the correct usage of "increasingly" will allow any writer to add nuance and precision to their expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more and more

This alternative emphasizes the growing quantity or intensity of something.

progressively

This alternative highlights a step-by-step increase or development.

gradually

This alternative suggests a slow and steady increase over time.

steadily

This alternative indicates a consistent and unwavering increase.

to a greater extent

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the degree of increase.

on the rise

This alternative implies an upward trend or growing popularity.

in growing measure

This alternative is more literary and emphasizes the expanding quantity.

by degrees

This alternative highlights a slow and incremental increase.

ever more

This alternative suggests an ongoing and continuous increase.

with increasing frequency

This alternative stresses the growing number of occurrences.

FAQs

How to use "increasingly" in a sentence?

The adverb "increasingly" is used to describe something that happens more and more. For example, "The weather is "becoming increasingly" unpredictable."

What can I say instead of "increasingly"?

You can use alternatives like "more and more", "progressively", or "gradually" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "increasingly important" or "more and more important"?

Both "increasingly important" and "more and more important" are correct and often interchangeable. The choice depends on the desired tone and rhythm of the sentence.

What's the difference between "increasingly" and "continually"?

"Increasingly" implies a growing degree or frequency, while "continually" suggests something happens repeatedly without necessarily increasing in intensity or amount. For example, "The situation is increasingly complex" vs. "The situation is continually discussed."