with each passing minute

USAGE SUMMARY

"with each passing minute" is a correct and usable phrase in English.
It means that something is happening gradually, as time passes. For example: "With each passing minute, I could feel the sun's heat on my skin getting stronger."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

With each passing minute.

The New Yorker

It continued with each passing minute of the video.

The Guardian

With each passing minute, she became more anxious.

The New York Times

With each passing minute, he said, the death rate increases by 10percentt.

The New York Times - Health

But he appeared to grow more emotional with each passing minute.

The New York Times - Sports

With each passing minute, I began to believe that we were finally safe and would return home.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

"Yet, with every passing minute we felt more comfortable around each other and they became curious about us and would make closer passes".

Huffington Post

With every passing minute it felt like he made another save, each more difficult than the last: he stopped Orellana, Jonny, Wass, Hernández and Aspas, all inside the first half.

The Guardian - Sport

Their odds of winning are collapsing with every passing minute.

The Guardian - Music

With every passing minute, as Sakhnin is unable to score, its side sinks deeper into gloom.

The New York Times - Magazine

With every passing minute, I knew we were moving farther off the grid.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "with each passing minute" to create a sense of increasing intensity or urgency in your writing. For instance, describe how anxiety grew "with each passing minute" as someone awaited important news.

Common error

Avoid using "with each passing minute" when describing a static or unchanging situation. This phrase implies a progression or change over time, so it's unsuitable for describing something constant. Instead use a phrase indicating constant state like 'at all times'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with each passing minute" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the gradual progression of an action, feeling, or state over time. As confirmed by Ludwig, it indicates something happening incrementally. Its function is to add detail or intensity to a situation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "with each passing minute" is a versatile prepositional phrase indicating gradual intensification or change. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and most frequently found in news and media contexts. While suitable for general writing, it's crucial to avoid using it in static contexts where no change is occurring. Alternatives like "as time goes by" or "with the passage of time" can be used depending on the desired nuance. Using the phrase correctly adds a sense of urgency or increasing intensity to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with each passing moment

Very similar in meaning, but replaces "minute" with the shorter unit of time.

with the passage of time

This option emphasizes the effect of time passing on a particular situation.

as time goes by

This alternative focuses on the progression of time as the cause of the change.

as time elapses

This alternative highlights the continuous flowing of time.

over time

A more concise way of expressing gradual change.

as moments pass

This alternative emphasizes the short duration of time.

as the minutes tick by

This alternative uses a more vivid image of time passing.

with every tick of the clock

Similar to "as the minutes tick by", but more emphatic.

in the fullness of time

This phrase suggests a more complete or eventual realization.

as the clock ticks down

This alternative brings a sense of urgency or impending deadline.

FAQs

How can I use "with each passing minute" in a sentence?

You can use "with each passing minute" to describe a gradual increase in emotion, intensity, or a change in situation. For example, "With each passing minute, the tension in the room grew thicker."

What's a good alternative to "with each passing minute"?

Alternatives include "as time goes by", "with the passage of time", or "with each passing moment", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use "with each passing minute"?

Yes, it's incorrect if the context doesn't involve a gradual change or progression. Using it to describe something static or unchanging would be inappropriate. Use instead words like "always" or "constantly".

What is the difference between "with each passing minute" and "over time"?

"With each passing minute" suggests a more immediate and noticeable change, while "over time" implies a more gradual change occurring across a longer duration. The former emphasizes the continuous progress of an action or feeling, in small time lapses.