rate of change

noun phrase

: a value that results from dividing the change in a function of a variable by the change in the variable
velocity is the rate of change in distance with respect to time

Examples of rate of change in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Accenture’s most recent Pulse of Change survey found that 72% of business leaders expect more change in 2025 compared to 2024, while 23% expect the rate of change to stay the same. John Gallucci Jr, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025 Though some climate change occurs naturally over millions of years, the current rate of change is a problem. Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 7 Apr. 2025 If anything, the rate of change today is even faster than that. Patrick Moorhead, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025 And some skeptics have predicted that as big AI companies run out of high-quality, publicly available data to train their models on, after having already gobbled up much of the internet, the rate of change in the industry may slow. Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 29 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for rate of change

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rate of change was in 1876

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rate of change.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rate%20of%20change. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rate of change

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!