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

With more than 20 years of technology experience, including scaling operations at Google and leading TaskRabbit through exponential growth and acquisition by Ikea, Brown-Philpot brings serious operational expertise to every investment. —Essence, 24 Nov. 2025

Cheap speech creates more bad speech which is then multiplied at an exponential scale. —Richard Stengel, Time, 24 Nov. 2025

At public and private colleges across the country, the pursuit of two distinct focuses is seeing an exponential rise, according to data analyzed by The Hechinger Report. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 18 Nov. 2025

Tanner’s Bar & Grill — with more than a dozen locations across Kansas, Wisconsin and Nebraska — has seen exponential growth since its humble beginnings in the 1980s. —Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 14 Nov. 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