Illustration of asymptote
- asymptotes to the hyperbola
asymptote
noun
as·ymp·tote
ˈa-səm(p)-ˌtōt 
: a straight line associated with a curve such that as a point moves along an infinite branch of the curve the distance from the point to the line approaches zero and the slope of the curve at the point approaches the slope of the line
Examples of asymptote in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Although inflation stretches the Universe flat and expands any pre-existing particles away from one another, this doesn’t necessarily mean the temperature approaches and asymptotes to absolute zero in short order.
—
Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025
People will keep trying to reproduce all of that artificially, no doubt, because the asymptote of fidelity is a moneymaker.
—Michael Owen, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2025
Even at a technical level, traditional pot still distillation is seemingly reaching the asymptote of its innovation curve.
—Chris Perugini, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Death, though, is not an asymptote.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2023
Bear in mind, though, that hyperbolic functions diverge to infinity at the asymptote.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 2 Feb. 2018
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Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025
People will keep trying to reproduce all of that artificially, no doubt, because the asymptote of fidelity is a moneymaker.
—Michael Owen, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2025
Even at a technical level, traditional pot still distillation is seemingly reaching the asymptote of its innovation curve.
—Chris Perugini, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025
Death, though, is not an asymptote.
—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Apr. 2023
Bear in mind, though, that hyperbolic functions diverge to infinity at the asymptote.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 2 Feb. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Asymptote.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/asymptote. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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