with every passing second

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "with every passing second" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to describe something that is happening quickly, for example something that is happening at a faster rate than normal. An example of using this phrase in a sentence is: "The tension in the room was growing with every passing second."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Huffington Post

Forbes

The Guardian

The New York Times

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

With every passing second, we were being pulled farther out to sea.

The New York Times - Magazine

Sollers listens, nodding from time to time, his boredom increasing with every passing second.

The New Yorker

My certainty that there were bears just outside the zippered front flap grew with every passing second.

The New York Times - Travel

"Everyone understands that the tissue of mammoth fauna loses its structure with every passing second, even in the freezer," he said.

The Guardian

From there, the relationship between the two men, one on which the lives of 155 people depended, grows more surreal with every passing second.

The Guardian

"We got an emergency returning". From there, the relationship between the two men, one on which the lives of 155 people depended, grows more surreal with every passing second.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

With each passing second I wanted out.

The Guardian - Sport

Do you know what phrase has less and less meaning for me with each passing second?

The New Yorker

One obstacle for would-be parking capitalists is that the tickets lose value with each passing second.

The New York Times

Be sure to make sure your WiFi is turned on, or watch your data costs soar with each passing second.

The Guardian

And it's growing more with each passing second.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "with every passing second" to create a sense of urgency or increasing intensity in your writing. It effectively conveys that something is changing or intensifying rapidly.

Common error

Avoid using "with every passing second" in situations where the change is gradual or insignificant. It's more effective when describing rapid or dramatic shifts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with every passing second" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the rate or pace at which something is occurring or changing. It specifies the temporal context of an action or state, emphasizing its continuous and accelerating nature. As Ludwig AI suggests, it describes something happening quickly or at a faster rate than normal.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Huffington Post

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Forbes

6.67%

The Guardian

6.67%

Vice

6.67%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "with every passing second" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that functions as an adverbial modifier to intensify descriptions and emphasize the relentless progression of time. According to Ludwig, it’s most effective in creating a sense of urgency or increasing intensity and can be found in diverse contexts, including news, personal narratives, and creative writing. The phrase is versatile, suiting both formal and informal styles, but should be used judiciously to avoid overuse in simple scenarios. As Ludwig AI confirms, its impact lies in conveying rapid or dramatic shifts. Related alternatives, such as "as time goes by" or "increasingly", can be used to vary expression while maintaining similar semantic effects.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with the passing of time

Similar in meaning but slightly more formal.

as time goes by

Focuses on the passage of time in a general sense.

as time elapses

Highlights the objective progression of time.

as time marches on

Conveys a sense of inevitability and the relentless forward movement of time.

with each tick of the clock

Emphasizes the incremental and relentless nature of time.

as seconds tick away

Focuses specifically on seconds and the feeling of time running out.

increasingly

Captures the growing intensity of something over time.

more and more

Highlights the accumulation or intensification of something.

as the clock ticks

Emphasizes the continuous and measurable progression of time.

in the blink of an eye

Highlights the rapid passage of time.

FAQs

How can I use "with every passing second" in a sentence?

Use "with every passing second" to illustrate a situation intensifying rapidly. For example, "The pressure on the team grew "with every passing second" as the deadline approached".

What's a good alternative to "with every passing second"?

Alternatives include phrases like "as time goes by", "increasingly", or "more and more", depending on the specific context.

Is it okay to use "with each passing second" instead of "with every passing second"?

Yes, "with each passing second" is grammatically correct and conveys a very similar meaning to "with every passing second". The choice often depends on stylistic preference.

In what contexts is "with every passing second" most appropriate?

This phrase is suitable for describing situations involving heightened tension, increasing urgency, or rapidly changing conditions, particularly in narratives or descriptive writing.