mounting

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'mounting' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in the sense of an action becoming more severe or intense, as in "the mounting pressure of the exam" or as a verb in the sense of attaching something to a wall, as in "mounting the painting on the wall".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There has been mounting concern about the UK's use of immigration detention.

The Guardian

But the need to dispose of the mounting number of corpses cheated some of the chance for closure.

The Guardian

Pressure has been mounting on Abbott to grant a conscience vote on the issue, but the prime minister has consistently said that the issue will be settled by the Coalition party room.

The Guardian

But it was to no avail and he eventually decided against mounting a re-election bid.

The Guardian

But they could be pipped by the DUP's Nigel Dodds who is mounting a strong challenge to the sitting UUP MP Cecil Walker.

The Guardian

It was when I realised I could not even ride the escalator in John Lewis without a mounting panic that I knew I had to get help.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Tensions have been mounting in Crimea, where pro-Russian protesters raised a Russian flag on a city hall in one town and scuffled with police.

The Guardian

As the international effort to find and rescue the girls gathered momentum, with military and intelligence resources from the US, UK, France, Israel and Canada pouring into Nigeria, and the #bringbackourgirls social media campaign exceeded 1m tweets, there was mounting criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan's slow response to the crisis.

The Guardian

Concern is mounting that British aid money may be funding programmes for police who are using rape as a tool of state-sanctioned torture against women in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The Guardian

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, the former top adviser to Barack Obama suddenly facing a runoff for re-election, remained at the political fulcrum of a mounting campaign both on social media and the streets of Chicago, where demonstrations were planned for Saturday outside what coordinated campaigners described as mirroring a CIA "black site".

The Guardian

The boss of Barclays, Bob Diamond, is under mounting pressure after the bank was hit with fines of £290m for its "serious, widespread" role in trying to manipulate the price of crucial interest rates that affect the cost of borrowing for millions of customers around the world.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mounting" to describe an increase, ensure the noun it modifies aligns with the idea of gradual growth or accumulation, such as "mounting evidence" or "mounting pressure".

Common error

Avoid using "mounting" with nouns that don't typically represent a gradual increase. For instance, saying "mounting explosion" is less appropriate than "escalating situation" because explosions are sudden, not gradual.

Linguistic Context

The word "mounting" functions primarily as a present participle or gerund, often used adjectivally to describe a noun. It conveys the idea of something increasing or accumulating over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, the term is suitable for various contexts. The examples provided by Ludwig illustrate how "mounting" modifies nouns like "pressure", "concern", and "evidence".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "mounting" functions as a present participle or gerund, most often working adjectivally to modify a noun. According to Ludwig AI, the word "mounting" is considered grammatically correct and highly usable in the English language. With primary usage in News & Media, and a neutral to formal register, it is typically used to emphasize a gradual increase of something over time. Its most common function is to indicate that something is growing and intensifying over a period, like "mounting pressure" or "mounting concern". While various synonyms like "increasing" and "accumulating" exist, "mounting" carries a specific connotation of a gradual accumulation that's often associated with a sense of urgency or heaviness. As evidenced by its frequency in authoritative sources like The Guardian and The New York Times, "mounting" is a valuable addition to any writer's vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increasing

Focuses on the gradual rise in quantity or intensity.

accumulating

Emphasizes the gradual collection or gathering of something.

growing

Highlights the gradual development or expansion of something.

escalating

Specifically refers to a rapid increase in intensity or seriousness.

intensifying

Indicates a strengthening or heightening of a particular quality or state.

rising

Simple and direct, indicating an upward movement or increase.

surging

Suggests a sudden and powerful increase.

amplifying

Focuses on making something louder or more pronounced, often metaphorically.

building up

Describes the gradual accumulation of something over time.

accumulating rapidly

Combines accumulation with speed, emphasizing a fast increase.

FAQs

How can I use "mounting" in a sentence?

You can use "mounting" to describe something that is increasing or accumulating, such as "The mounting pressure on the team" or "Mounting evidence suggests a different conclusion".

What are some alternatives to using the word "mounting"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "mounting" with alternatives like "increasing", "accumulating", or "escalating".

Is it correct to say "mounting debts" or should I use another phrase?

"Mounting debts" is a correct and commonly used phrase. It effectively conveys the idea of debts gradually increasing over time. An alternative could be "increasing debts" but the first is already a very good option.

What's the difference between "mounting" and "accumulating"?

While both words suggest an increase, "mounting" often implies a gradual and potentially burdensome build-up, whereas "accumulating" is a more general term for gathering or collecting. In some cases you may use both such as: "accumulating rapidly".