another word for increasingly: 27 Alternatives & Examples

At a Glance: increasingly Synonyms and Related Alternatives

• More and more: growing in amount or degree; the everyday default.
• Progressively: advancing step by step; formal and measured.
• Gradually: slowly over time; gentle and unhurried.
• Steadily: at a constant, unchanging rate; reliable.
• Continuously: without interruption; ongoing.
• Ever more: literary way of saying “more and more.”
• Incrementally: in small regular additions; technical.
• Constantly: all the time; can suggest annoyance.
• Cumulatively: building up through accumulation.
• Over time: across a period; plain and neutral.

Which Word Should You Use?

If you want to…	Use	Why
Sound natural in conversation	more and more, day by day	Nobody finds them stiff
Write a formal report	progressively, to an increasing extent	Measured and professional
Stress slow gentleness	gradually, little by little	Soft, unhurried growth
Stress reliability	steadily, step by step	No surprises in the trend
Describe data and metrics	incrementally, cumulatively	Technical and precise
Add literary color	ever more, with each passing day	Elegant, slightly formal
Describe the thing growing	mounting, deepening, swelling	Adjectives for rising concerns and crises
Keep it short in headlines	on the rise, more so	Compact and punchy

Exploring the Multiple Meanings of “increasingly”

1. To a growing degree

• Meaning: More and more as time passes.
• Explanation: The core sense: “increasingly popular” means popularity keeps growing. The trend matters more than the speed.
• Example: Remote work is increasingly common in tech.

2. With mounting intensity

• Meaning: Growing stronger or more serious.
• Explanation: For problems and pressures: increasingly difficult, increasingly urgent. The growth feels pressing.
• Example: The drought made farming increasingly difficult.

3. In progressive stages

• Meaning: Advancing step by step toward more of something.
• Explanation: The orderly sense: increasingly complex systems, increasingly refined methods. Growth with structure.
• Example: The course covers increasingly advanced topics.

Sources: Merriam-Webster, Dictionary.com, Etymonline, Collins

Analyzing 27 increasingly Alternatives in Detail

Direct adverb synonyms come first; phrases and related descriptive words are marked as you go.

Direct Adverb Synonyms

1. More and more

IPA: (US and UK) /ˌmɔːr ənd ˈmɔːr/

Definition: To a progressively greater extent.

• Usage: The everyday twin of increasingly. Use it in speech and informal writing; reports often prefer the single word.
• Example: More and more people shop online.

2. Ever more

IPA: (US and UK) /ˌɛvər ˈmɔːr/

Definition: Increasingly; to a greater and greater degree.

• Usage: Literary and slightly formal. “Ever more complex” sounds written rather than spoken.
• Example: The plot grew ever more tangled.

3. Progressively

IPA: US /prəˈɡrɛsɪvli/ · UK /prəˈɡrɛsɪvli/

Definition: In a way that advances gradually toward a more complete or advanced state.

• Usage: Formal and orderly. Progressive suggests planned stages, which increasingly does not promise.
• Example: The training gets progressively harder.

4. Gradually

IPA: (US and UK) /ˈɡrædʒuəli/

Definition: Slowly over a period of time.

• Usage: Close synonym with a gentler feel. Gradually stresses slowness; increasingly stresses growth. See our guide to another word for gradually for the full picture.
• Example: The fog gradually lifted by noon.

5. Steadily

IPA: (US and UK) /ˈstɛdɪli/

Definition: At a constant rate; without sudden change.

• Usage: Promises reliability. Steadily rising prices upset no one with surprises; increasingly rising prices just keep growing.
• Example: Sales have grown steadily for five years.

6. Continuously

IPA: US /kənˈtɪnjuəsli/ · UK /kənˈtɪnjʊəsli/

Definition: Without interruption; constantly.

• Usage: About unbroken flow rather than growth. “Continuously monitored” means always watched, not increasingly watched.
• Example: The machine runs continuously through the night.

7. Constantly

IPA: (US and UK) /ˈkɒnstəntli/

Definition: All the time; repeatedly.

• Usage: Related and frequent; it can sound complaining (“constantly interrupting”). Use for repetition more than growth.
• Example: The baby is constantly hungry these days.

8. Cumulatively

IPA: (US and UK) /ˈkjuːmjʊlətɪvli/

Definition: In a way that builds up through addition over time.

• Usage: Technical and precise. Cumulative effects, cumulative scores. About totals, not trends.
• Example: Small daily savings add up cumulatively.

9. Incrementally

IPA: US /ˌɪnkrəˈmɛntəli/ · UK /ˌɪnkrəˈmɛntəli/

Definition: In small regular amounts or stages.

• Usage: Business and tech vocabulary. Incremental improvements, incremental backups. Small steps, stated plainly.
• Example: The software improves incrementally each month.

10. Successively

IPA: US /səkˈsɛsɪvli/ · UK /səkˈsɛsɪvli/

Definition: Following one after another in order.

• Usage: Formal, about sequence: three successively hotter summers. Order matters more than growth.
• Example: She won successively tougher matches.

Gradual-Process Adverbs

11. Bit by bit

IPA: (US and UK) /ˌbɪt baɪ ˈbɪt/

Definition: Gradually; in small stages.

• Usage: Friendly idiom-like phrase. Bit by bit suggests patient progress.
• Example: Bit by bit, the garden took shape.

12. Little by little

IPA: (US and UK) /ˌlɪtəl baɪ ˈlɪtəl/

Definition: Slowly and in small amounts.

• Usage: Gentle and encouraging. Little by little suits personal progress stories.
• Example: Little by little, her confidence returned.

13. Step by step

IPA: (US and UK) /ˌstɛp baɪ ˈstɛp/

Definition: Gradually, one stage at a time.

• Usage: Methodical. Step by step promises a clear path, which increasingly never does.
• Example: The guide explains the process step by step.

14. Day by day

IPA: (US and UK) /ˌdeɪ baɪ ˈdeɪ/

Definition: Gradually, as each day passes.

• Usage: Human-scale and hopeful or weary by turns. Recovery stories love it.
• Example: Day by day, the patient grew stronger.

Degree and Extent Phrases

15. To a growing degree

IPA: (US and UK) /tuː ə ˈɡrəʊɪŋ dɪˈɡriː/

Definition: More and more; with increasing intensity.

• Usage: Formal phrase for reports and essays. Wordier than increasingly but precise.
• Example: Citizens are, to a growing degree, worried about costs.

16. To an increasing extent

IPA: US /tuː ən ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ ɪkˈstɛnt/ · UK /tuː ən ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ ɪkˈstɛnt/

Definition: More and more; progressively.

• Usage: The formal written equivalent. Academic and official prose favors it.
• Example: Trade depends to an increasing extent on digital services.

17. More so

IPA: (US and UK) /ˌmɔːr ˈsəʊ/

Definition: To a greater degree.

• Usage: Compact and comparative. “The north, more so than the south” is typical; it needs a comparison nearby.
• Example: Costs rose everywhere, more so in the cities.

18. All the more

IPA: (US and UK) /ˌɔːl ðə ˈmɔːr/

Definition: Even more; to a greater degree because of something.

• Usage: Gives a reason: “all the more urgent because of the delay.” Rhetorical and effective.
• Example: The win was all the more sweet for being unexpected.

Time-Based Phrases

19. Over time

IPA: (US and UK) /ˈəʊvər ˈtaɪm/

Definition: Across a period; gradually.

• Usage: Plain and neutral. Over time suits explanations of slow change.
• Example: Over time, the paint faded in the sun.

20. With time

IPA: (US and UK) /wɪð ˈtaɪm/

Definition: As time passes.

• Usage: Simple and slightly literary. “With time, wounds heal” is the classic shape.
• Example: With time, the new system felt natural.

21. As time goes on

IPA: (US and UK) /əz ˈtaɪm ɡəʊz ˈɒn/

Definition: With the passing of time.

• Usage: Conversational and reflective. Good for essays with a personal voice.
• Example: As time goes on, the city keeps spreading outward.

22. With each passing day

IPA: (US and UK) /wɪð ˌiːtʃ ˈpɑːsɪŋ ˈdeɪ/

Definition: More and more as days pass.

• Usage: Dramatic and slightly formal. News features use it for unfolding stories.
• Example: With each passing day, the rescue grew more urgent.

23. On the rise

IPA: (US and UK) /ɒn ðə ˈraɪz/

Definition: Increasing in amount, number, or popularity.

• Usage: Headline-friendly. “On the rise” needs a subject that rises: prices, cases, stars.
• Example: Electric car sales are on the rise.

Related Descriptive Words

24. Mounting

IPA: (US and UK) /ˈmaʊntɪŋ/

Definition: Gradually increasing, especially of problems or pressure.

• Usage: Related, not exact: it describes the thing growing (mounting costs), not the manner. Adjective use.
• Example: Mounting debts forced the shop to close.

25. Growing

IPA: (US and UK) /ˈɡrəʊɪŋ/

Definition: Increasing in size, amount, or importance.

• Usage: Related adjective: growing demand, growing concern. Everyday and versatile.
• Example: There is growing interest in urban farming.

26. Deepening

IPA: (US and UK) /ˈdiːpənɪŋ/

Definition: Becoming more serious or intense.

• Usage: Related, for crises and divides: deepening recession, deepening rift. Somber tone.
• Example: The deepening crisis worried investors.

27. Swelling

IPA: (US and UK) /ˈswɛlɪŋ/

Definition: Growing larger in number or amount.

• Usage: Related and vivid: swelling crowds, swelling ranks. Suggests visible growth.
• Example: Swelling crowds filled the square by noon.

Sources: Merriam-Webster, Dictionary.com, Collins

Increasingly vs. Gradually vs. Progressively

Word	Stresses	Best sentence
Increasingly	Growth in degree	Costs are increasingly hard to control
Gradually	Slowness of change	The mist gradually cleared
Progressively	Orderly stages	The course is progressively graded

All three describe change over time, but increasingly watches the amount grow, gradually watches the clock, and progressively watches the steps. Pick the one whose emphasis matches your point.

Sources: Dictionary.com, Merriam-Webster

increasingly and Opposite/Paired Word Pairs

Word	Paired Word	Note
increasingly	decreasingly	The direct mirror (rare but correct)
more and more	less and less	The everyday pairing
growing	shrinking	Expansion versus contraction
mounting	easing	Pressure rising versus pressure falling
steadily rising	steadily falling	Trend language in both directions
on the rise	on the decline	Headline pairing

In practice, writers contrast “increasingly” with “less and less” or simply reverse the adjective: increasingly clear versus increasingly unclear.

Sources: Merriam-Webster, Collins

Related Articles

• another word for largely
• another word for obviously
• another word for actually
• another word for better

Common Word Partners of “increasingly”

Pattern	Common Partners	Example
increasingly + adjective	common, clear, difficult, important, popular	Electric cars are increasingly popular.
increasingly + adverb	so, aware	People are increasingly aware of the risks.
verb + increasingly	become, grow, seem	The task became increasingly urgent.
increasingly + concerned/worried	concerned, worried, anxious	Parents are increasingly worried.
increasingly + likely/unlikely	likely, unlikely	A deal looks increasingly unlikely.
more and more + noun	people, businesses, countries	More and more businesses allow remote work.

Sources: Dictionary.com, Collins

Established Expressions Featuring “increasingly”

True idioms with “increasingly” are rare; these established expressions do the real work.

1. Increasingly common

• Meaning: Happening more and more often.
• Example: Flexible working is increasingly common.

2. Increasingly clear

• Meaning: Becoming more and more obvious.
• Example: It is increasingly clear that reform is needed.

3. More and more

• Meaning: To a greater extent as time passes (the idiom-like core phrase).
• Example: More and more families grow their own food.

4. Day by day

• Meaning: Gradually, with each passing day.
• Example: Day by day, the situation improves.

Sources: Merriam-Webster, Dictionary.com

Word Formation of “increasingly”

Etymology & Structure

“Increasingly” was formed in the late 14th century from “increasing” plus the adverbial suffix “-ly.” Its root, “increase,” came in the mid-14th century from Latin increscere, “to grow” (from in-, “in,” plus crescere, “to grow”).

Date and History

Recorded in the late 14th century as an adverb; the verb “increase” is mid-14th century.

Word Class Variations

• Adverb: increasingly: “increasingly important”
• Verb: increase: “costs increase”
• Noun: increase: “an increase in sales”
• Adjective: increasing: “increasing demand”
• Adjective: increased: “increased security”

Sources: Etymonline, Merriam-Webster

Common Word-Choice Mistakes

• Writing “increasingly more”: redundant; “increasingly” already means “more and more.”
• Using “increasingly” with a one-time event: it needs a trend, not a moment.
• Confusing “increasingly” with “gradually”: one stresses growth, the other slowness.
• Pairing it with absolutes: “increasingly unique” is nonsense; unique has no degrees.
• Overusing it in reports: vary with “growing,” “mounting,” or “on the rise.”
• Writing “more increasingly”: never double the comparison.
• Using “constantly” as a straight swap: constantly means “all the time,” which can sound like complaining.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the closest synonym for increasingly?
More and more is the closest everyday match; progressively is closest in formal writing.

What is the difference between increasingly and gradually?
Increasingly stresses growth in degree; gradually stresses slowness of change. Prices rise increasingly; fog clears gradually.

Is increasingly formal?
Neutral. It fits news, reports, essays, and conversation equally well.

Can increasingly start a sentence?
Yes: “Increasingly, voters want clear answers.” The comma is standard.

What is a formal alternative to increasingly?
Progressively, or the phrase “to an increasing extent.”

What is the opposite of increasingly?
Decreasingly is the direct opposite, though writers more often say “less and less.”

Is “increasingly more” correct?
No. It doubles the comparison; use “increasingly” alone.

Which adjectives pair best with increasingly?
Common, clear, difficult, important, popular, aware, concerned, and likely are the most natural partners.

How does it differ from largely?
Largely describes extent (“mostly”); increasingly describes growing degree. Our guide to another word for largely covers that family, and another word for obviously covers its confident cousin.

How can I vary repetitive trend language?
Rotate through growing, mounting, and on the rise, and sharpen the rest with another word for better. For plain factual statements, another word for actually helps too.

Conclusion

For everyday writing, more and more is the natural stand-in. For formal prose, progressively and to an increasing extent carry the right weight. For gentler change, gradually and little by little soften the slope, while mounting, growing, and on the rise describe the trend from the outside.

The golden rule is simple: increasingly needs a genuine trend, not a single event, and it should never double up with “more.” Keep those two rules and the word will serve you well in any register.

Trends deserve precise language, and now you have 27 ways to describe them.

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What is another word for increasingly? Discover 27 synonyms with meanings, IPA pronunciations, and usage examples, from more and more to progressively.

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