growth rate

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The speed at which something, such as an economy, a company or a population, increases in size over a period of time.

   Grammar: Often followed by of or in: a growth rate of 3 percent.

   Patterns

   • growth rate of something
   • growth rate in something

   The country's growth rate slowed to two percent last year.

   Our website has a steady monthly growth rate of about five percent.

   Scientists measured the growth rate of the bacteria every hour.

2. 2nouncountablebiology

   In biology, how quickly an organism or part of it increases in size or mass.

   Grammar: Used with plants, animals or cells: the growth rate of seedlings.

   Patterns

   • growth rate of an organism

   Bamboo has one of the fastest growth rates of any plant.

   Cold water lowered the fish's growth rate.

Common combinations

high growth rate

The start-up reported a high growth rate in its first year.

annual growth rate

The annual growth rate was just under four percent.

slow growth rate

A slow growth rate worried the investors.

population growth rate

The population growth rate has fallen in many cities.

growth rate slows

The growth rate slows as the market matures.

Synonyms and how they differ

expansion

Expansion names the increase itself, while growth rate measures how fast it happens.

rate of increase

Rate of increase is plainer and can describe any quantity, not only things that grow.

pace of growth

Pace of growth is more descriptive and less technical than the term growth rate.

Opposites

Word family

growth noun

The process of increasing in size or amount.

grow verb

To become bigger or more.

growing adjective

Becoming larger or more common.

grower noun

A person who raises plants or crops.

Commonly confused: growth rate or growth?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “growth rate”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words