Increasingly

Increasingly is an adverb used to indicate that the degree, intensity, frequency, or extent of something is rising over time or as a pattern. It is formed from the verb increase plus the -ly suffix and is typically used to modify adjectives, participles, or verbs, signaling a trend rather than a single occurrence. For example: “increasingly complex systems,” “the problem is increasingly urgent,” or “public interest is increasingly shifting toward renewable energy.”

Usage and nuance: Increasingly is common in formal, analytical, and journalistic writing. It emphasizes gradual change and is often preferable to phrases like more and more when a precise sense of a rising trend is desired. It can modify adjectives (increasingly large), participles (increasingly used), or verbs (the demand is increasingly outstripping supply). It may introduce or reinforce a pattern across clauses, as in: “The policy has become increasingly controversial, with stakeholders voicing concerns at each meeting.”

Examples: The region is experiencing increasingly frequent heat waves. Technology is becoming increasingly integrated into everyday life. The audience is becoming increasingly attentive as the speaker progresses.

Related terms: More and more, progressively, gradually. Etymology: derived from increase + -ly, first attested in English several centuries ago.