adj · noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:ĕk-spō-nĕn'-chəl
UK:/ˌɛk.spəˈnɛn.t͡ʃəl/
UK:/ˌɛk.spəʊˈnɛn.tʃəl/
Canada, US:ĕk-spō-nĕn'-chəl
Canada, US:/ˌɛk.spəˈnɛn.t͡ʃəl/
Canada, US:/ˌɛk.spoʊˈnɛn.t͡ʃəl/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australian, New-Zealand:/ˌek.spəˈnen.t͡ʃəl/
CMU ARPABET:EH2 K S P OW0 N EH1 N SH AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Expressed in terms of an exponent (power of a base), the base often being 10 or e.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: mathematics, sciences
Examples
In base-10 exponential form, 1,000,000 is written as 106.
If not otherwise specified, "the" exponential function is normally understood to mean ex.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Characterised by a rate of change that is proportional to the value of the varying quantity, or, equivalently, by a doubling or halving over successive fixed intervals of time or other parameter, described as exponential growth or exponential decay.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: mathematics, sciences
Examples
There were two deaths on Monday, four on Tuesday, and eight on Wednesday. The rate of increase seems exponential.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Characterised by a very rapid rate of change, especially increase, or merely a very large amount or degree.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly
Examples
Near-synonyms: extreme, huge
There's been an exponential rise in the number of crimes reported this year, compared to last year.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: extreme, huge
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Any function that has an exponent as an independent variable.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: mathematics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: exponential function
Antonyms: none provided
5
adjective
Meaning 5
of or involving exponents
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
exponential growth
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
a function in which an independent variable appears as an exponent
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Etymology tree English exponent Proto-Indo-European *h2el-der.? Proto-Italic *-ālis Latin -ālisder. Old French -ialder. Middle English -ial English -ial English exponential From exponent + -ial.
Across languages
Translations
60 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Afrikaans:
eksponensiaal
— relating to an exponent
Arabic:
أُسِّيّ
(ʔussiyy)
— relating to an exponent
Armenian:
ցուցչային
(cʻucʻčʻayin)
— relating to an exponent
Bulgarian:
експоненциален
(eksponencialen)
— relating to an exponent
Catalan:
exponencial
— relating to an exponent
Czech:
exponenciální
— relating to an exponent
Dutch:
exponentieel
— relating to an exponent
Finnish:
eksponentiaalinen
— relating to an exponent
German:
exponentiell
— relating to an exponent
Greek:
εκθετικός
(ekthetikós)
— relating to an exponent
Italian:
esponenziale
— relating to an exponent
Japanese:
指数的
— relating to an exponent
Norwegian:
eksponensiell
— relating to an exponent
Polish:
wykładniczy
— relating to an exponent
Polish:
eksponencjalny
— relating to an exponent
Portuguese:
exponencial
— relating to an exponent
Romanian:
exponențial
— relating to an exponent
Russian:
показа́тельный
(pokazátelʹnyj)
— relating to an exponent
Russian:
экспоненциа́льный
(eksponenciálʹnyj)
— relating to an exponent
Tagalog:
paulitin
— relating to an exponent
Turkish:
üssel
— relating to an exponent
Turkish:
üstel
— relating to an exponent
Arabic:
أُسِّيّ
(ʔussiyy)
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Bulgarian:
експоненциален
(eksponencialen)
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Finnish:
eksponentiaalinen
— expressed in terms of a power of e
French:
exponentiel
— expressed in terms of a power of e
German:
exponentiell
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Greek:
εκθετικός
(ekthetikós)
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Hebrew:
מעריכי
(ma'arichí)
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Hebrew:
אקספוננציאלי
(eksponentziáli)
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Hungarian:
exponenciális
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Italian:
esponenziale
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Japanese:
指数関数
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Latin:
expōnentiālis
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Polish:
wykładniczy
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Polish:
eksponencjalny
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Portuguese:
exponencial
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Romanian:
exponențial
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Russian:
экспоненциа́льный
(eksponenciálʹnyj)
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Tagalog:
paulitin
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Turkish:
üssel
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Turkish:
üstel
— expressed in terms of a power of e
Arabic:
أُسِّيّ
(ʔussiyy)
— having a high or rapid rate of change
Finnish:
eksponentiaalinen
— having a high or rapid rate of change
German:
exponentiell
— having a high or rapid rate of change
Greek:
εκθετικός
(ekthetikós)
— having a high or rapid rate of change
Hungarian:
exponenciális
— having a high or rapid rate of change
Italian:
esponenziale
— having a high or rapid rate of change
Japanese:
指数関数的増大
— having a high or rapid rate of change
Polish:
wykładniczy
— having a high or rapid rate of change
Polish:
eksponencjalny
— having a high or rapid rate of change
Portuguese:
exponencial
— having a high or rapid rate of change
Romanian:
exponențial
— having a high or rapid rate of change
Russian:
экспоненциа́льный
(eksponenciálʹnyj)
— having a high or rapid rate of change
Spanish:
exponencial
— having a high or rapid rate of change
Turkish:
üssel
— having a high or rapid rate of change
Turkish:
üstel
— having a high or rapid rate of change
Māori:
taupūtanga
— Any function that has an exponent as an independent variable
Polish:
funkcja wykładnicza
— Any function that has an exponent as an independent variable
Polish:
funkcja eksponencjalna
— Any function that has an exponent as an independent variable
