skyrocketing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "skyrocketing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a rapid increase or rise in something, such as prices, numbers, or trends. Example: "The cost of living has been skyrocketing over the past year, making it difficult for many families to make ends meet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The American higher education system is broken: between predatory student lenders, rapacious for-profit colleges, skyrocketing tuition rates and the number of people taking on a lifetime's worth of debt before they can legally drink, the current system is not sustainable.

The Guardian - Opinion

The 20-year-old single mother said skyrocketing rents and unscrupulous landlords had already forced a number of her peers from a capital they can no longer afford.

The Guardian

That wouldn't do much to bring down inflation, but it would at least help keep it from skyrocketing.

The Economist

It had been growing by 30% a year, twice the industry average, and its skyrocketing share price had made more millionaires in Houston than oil ever did.Forbes magazine had just crowned Compaq its "company of the year", saluting its "exceptional" chief executive, Eckhard Pfeiffer.

The Economist

His condition, no doubt, has been brought on by public outrage at the skyrocketing cost of a new building for the Parliament (£190m, perhaps more, and the architect is off sick too).A columnist in the Scottish Sun fumes that the Parliament is "faceless, feckless, homeless, useless".

The Economist

"Ridership is just skyrocketing," says Elizabeth Preston of the League of American Bicyclists, a Washington, DC, advocacy group (even cyclists have lobbyists these days).

The Economist

Just as importantly, the skyrocketing cost of living makes it harder to fill the lower-tech positions that account for about half of all jobs in the area.

The Economist

As a result, Internet use in China is skyrocketing.

The Economist

As more goods have become available in the city, the influx of people has sent prices skyrocketing.

The Economist

Christensen, a Harvard business school professor, has predicted that in 15 years, half of all universities will be out of business because higher education, with its skyrocketing costs, is ripe for technological upheaval.Scary stuff for the professoriate!

The Economist

HUNDREDS of angry protesters chanting "mafia" and "resignation" threw snowballs at Delyan Dobrev, Bulgaria's economy and energy minister, a few days ago when he went out of the ministry's building in Sofia to talk to about 500 people rallying against skyrocketing electricity and heating bills.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "skyrocketing" to describe a rapid and significant increase in a specific metric, such as prices, costs, or demand. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is increasing and the speed or extent of the increase.

Common error

Avoid using "skyrocketing" in very informal or casual writing. While acceptable in news and general contexts, opt for simpler terms like "rising" or "increasing" when writing for casual conversations or less formal documents.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "skyrocketing" is to act as a verb in its present participle form (e.g., "prices are skyrocketing") or as an adjective modifying a noun (e.g., "skyrocketing costs"). Ludwig indicates it's correctly used to describe a rapid increase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Encyclopedias

17%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "skyrocketing" is a versatile descriptor for rapid increases, functioning both as a verb and an adjective. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use. Predominantly found in news and encyclopedia contexts, it conveys urgency and significant change. Related terms include "soaring" and "surging", but "skyrocketing" offers a distinct emphasis on rapid acceleration. While appropriate for many formal contexts, avoid overuse in overly casual settings. Remember to use it where it is most impactful.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

soaring

Indicates a high and rapid increase, often used for prices or popularity.

surging

Implies a sudden and powerful increase, often used for quantities or forces.

spiking

Suggests a sharp, temporary increase, often used for measurements or levels.

spiraling

Implies an uncontrolled or rapidly worsening increase, often used for debt or costs.

rising sharply

A more descriptive phrase emphasizing the speed and magnitude of the increase.

escalating rapidly

Highlights the acceleration of the increase, often used for costs or tensions.

climbing steeply

Similar to rising sharply but emphasizes the steepness of the increase.

increasing exponentially

Describes an extremely rapid increase where the rate of growth is also increasing.

leaping

Suggests a sudden and significant jump.

racing

Suggests a fast and competitive increase.

FAQs

How to use "skyrocketing" in a sentence?

Use "skyrocketing" to describe a rapid and substantial increase. For example, "The company's profits are skyrocketing this quarter" or "Skyrocketing housing prices are making it difficult for young people to buy homes."

What can I say instead of "skyrocketing"?

You can use alternatives like "soaring", "surging", or "rising sharply" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "skyrocketing prices" or "prices are skyrocketing"?

Both are correct. "Skyrocketing prices" uses "skyrocketing" as an adjective, while "prices are skyrocketing" uses it as a verb in present participle form.

Is "skyrocketing" appropriate for formal writing?

"Skyrocketing" is suitable for many formal contexts, especially when emphasizing a rapid and significant increase. However, consider alternatives like "escalating rapidly" for a more nuanced tone in highly formal or academic settings.