exponential

adjective

ex·​po·​nen·​tial ˌek-spə-ˈnen(t)-shəl 

1

: of or relating to an exponent

2

: involving a variable in an exponent

10^x is an exponential expression

3

: expressible or approximately expressible by an exponential function

especially : characterized by or being an extremely rapid increase (as in size or extent)

an exponential growth rate

exponentially

ˌek-spə-ˈnen(t)-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of exponential in a Sentence

The business has experienced several years of exponential growth.

Prices have increased at an exponential rate.

10³ is an exponential expression.

Recent Examples on the Web

Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta are the main players investing at staggering levels to build and upgrade data centers that support the exponential demand for AI computing power, with those four companies alone forecasting a record $364 billion of capital investment in 2025. —Leo Schwartz, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2025

As Spectrum reported last month, LLMs are improving at an exponential rate, which doesn’t augur well for the rest of the human workforce. —IEEE Spectrum, 31 July 2025

In other words, how many daily steps deliver maximum health benefits before each additional step fails to add exponential improvements. —New Atlas, 26 July 2025

With the Charlotte region’s exponential growth, energy demand is high. —Charlotte Observer, 25 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1701, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing exponential

• exponential function

Rhymes for exponential

• consequential
• deferential
• evidential
• existential
• influential
• nonessential
• penitential
• precedential
• preferential
• presidential
• providential
• referential

Kids Definition

exponential

adjective

ex·​po·​nen·​tial ˌek-spə-ˈnen-chəl 

: of, relating to, or involving an exponent

xⁿ is an exponential expression

exponentially

-ˈnench-(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

exponential

adjective

ex·​po·​nen·​tial ˌek-spə-ˈnen-chəl 

: expressible or approximately expressible by an exponential function

an exponential growth rate

exponentially

-ˈnench-(ə-)lē 

adverb