exponential

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

Definition of exponential

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

play \ˌek-spə-ˈnen(t)-sh(ə-)lē\ adverb

See exponential defined for English-language learners

See exponential defined for kids

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 of exponential from the Web

Football is the most loved, played and watched sport in the world and in China, the exponential growth pathway for the game is both unique and hugely exciting.

— SI.com, "Man City's Parent Group Agree Deal to Purchase Major Stake in La Liga Club Girona," 23 Aug. 2017
The U.S. is not only the world's most lucrative ride-hailing market, but also one that has room for exponential growth as urban dwellers increasingly consider options to car ownership.

— jon swartz, USA TODAY, "Uber's next CEO inherits a board at war and a combative ex-CEO," 20 Aug. 2017
That would allow the Heat to match any outside offer, with this year's market showing that the spending frenzy of the 2016 offseason was an anomaly created by a one-time exponential jump in salaries.

— ira winderman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Winderman: Josh Richardson extension worthy of Heat front-burner | Commentary," 5 Aug. 2017
Cryptocurrencies like bitcoin have attracted the attention of the authorities due to the exponential rise in their prices and market size.

— shruti srivastava, Bloomberg.com, "India Mulls Monitoring Digital Currencies to Track Crime," 14 July 2017
How necessary is intermediate algebra, a high school-level course on factoring trinomials, graphing exponential functions and memorizing formulas that most non-math or science students will rarely use in everyday life or for the rest of college?

— rosanna xia, latimes.com, "The politics of math: Is algebra necessary to obtain a college degree?," 30 June 2017
Adding to the pressure is exponential growth in mining and infrastructure development—

— jane qiu, Science | AAAS, "Surge in wildlife killings is wiping out giraffes," 22 June 2017
Calhoun fanned the pessimism, making specific predictions that if humans failed to slow their exponential rate of population growth, a similar extinction could befall them by the year 2027.

— fredrick kunkle, Washington Post, "The researcher who loved rats and fueled our doomsday fears," 19 June 2017
The use of wind and solar energy for this purpose has increased exponentially — but exponential growth in small industries is easy over the short term.

— philip bump, Washington Post, "The other climate change Trump doesn’t understand: How the energy business climate has shifted," 1 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'exponential.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of exponential

1704

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

EXPONENTIAL Defined for English Language Learners

exponential

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adjective

Definition of exponential for English Language Learners

: very fast : increasingly rapid
mathematics : including or using an exponent

Medical Dictionary

exponential

play

adjective ex·po·nen·tial \ ˌek-spə-ˈnen-chəl \

medical Definition of exponential

:expressible or approximately expressible by an exponential function

an exponential growth rate

—

exponentially

play \-ˈnench-(ə-)lē\ adverb

Learn More about exponential

See words that rhyme with exponential Spanish Central: Translation of exponential Nglish: Translation of exponential for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of exponential for Arabic speakers

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exponential

Definition of exponential

exponentially

Examples of exponential in a Sentence

Recent Examples of exponential from the Web

First Known Use of exponential

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

EXPONENTIAL Defined for English Language Learners

exponential

Definition of exponential for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

exponential

medical Definition of exponential

exponentially

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exponential

Definition of exponential

exponentially

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EXPONENTIAL Defined for English Language Learners

exponential

Definition of exponential for English Language Learners

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exponential

medical Definition of exponential

exponentially

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