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Meaning & use

explosive growth

noun·Everyday

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UK/ɪkˌspləʊsɪv ˈɡrəʊθ/
US/ɪkˌsploʊsɪv ˈɡroʊθ/

Meanings

  1. noununcountablefigurative

    A very fast and sudden increase in size, amount, or number.

    Grammar: Uncountable, so say 'explosive growth in sales', not 'an explosive growth'.

    Patterns

    • explosive growth in something
    • explosive growth of something
    • experience explosive growth
    • fuel explosive growth

    The company reported explosive growth in online sales last year.

    Cheap flights led to explosive growth in tourism along the coast.

    Economists warn that such explosive growth cannot continue forever.

  2. noununcountablefigurative

    A rapid and uncontrolled spread or development of something, often seen as a problem.

    Grammar: Also uncountable and often followed by 'of': explosive growth of the city.

    Patterns

    • explosive growth of something
    • the explosive growth of the internet

    The explosive growth of the city put huge pressure on its water supply.

    Officials are struggling with the explosive growth of informal housing.

    The report traces the explosive growth of social media over ten years.

Common combinations

explosive growth in
There has been explosive growth in demand for electric cars.
explosive growth of
The explosive growth of the suburbs changed the region.
experience explosive growth
The startup experienced explosive growth in its second year.
fuel explosive growth
Low interest rates fueled explosive growth in house prices.
a period of explosive growth
The 1990s were a period of explosive growth for the industry.

Synonyms and how they differ

rapid growth
Neutral and common; it states speed without suggesting drama or loss of control.
boom
A countable noun for a period of fast growth, as in a building boom; it can also suggest the growth will end.
surge
A sudden strong increase, often short-lived and countable, as in a surge in demand.
expansion
More formal and usually planned; it lacks the sense of speed and surprise.

Opposites

declinestagnationcollapse

Word family

explode verb
To burst apart violently, or to increase very quickly.
explosion noun
A violent burst, or a sudden large increase.
explosively adverb
In a sudden, violent, or very fast way.
grow verb
To become larger or greater in amount.

Commonly confused: explosive growth or explosive?

explosive growth vs explosive

As a noun, an explosive is a substance that blows up. In this phrase it is an adjective meaning sudden and dramatic.

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