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Meaning & use

rapid growth

noun·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˌræpɪd ˈɡrəʊθ/
US/ˌræpɪd ˈɡroʊθ/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    An increase in size, number or value that happens quickly over a short period.

    Grammar: Uncountable: experience rapid growth, not a rapid growth.

    Patterns

    • rapid growth in something
    • experience rapid growth

    The company experienced rapid growth in its first three years.

    Rapid growth in the city's population strained the schools.

    Bamboo is known for its rapid growth.

  2. noununcountablebiology

    In biology, quick increase in the size or number of organisms or cells.

    Grammar: Uncountable; often used with bacteria, cells or plants.

    Patterns

    • rapid growth of something

    Warm, wet conditions allow the rapid growth of bacteria.

    The seedlings showed rapid growth after the rain.

    Cancer is marked by the rapid growth of abnormal cells.

Common combinations

experience rapid growth
The sector is experiencing rapid growth.
period of rapid growth
Teenagers go through a period of rapid growth.
rapid growth in
There was rapid growth in online sales.
fuel rapid growth
Cheap credit fueled rapid growth.
drive rapid growth
New technology drove rapid growth.

Synonyms and how they differ

boom
Boom is more informal and usually describes a sudden surge in business or economy.
surge
Surge suggests a sudden, short-lived upward rush, while rapid growth can continue for years.
expansion
Expansion describes getting bigger without stressing the speed.
explosive growth
Explosive growth is even stronger and suggests extreme speed.

Opposites

slow growthdecline

Word family

grow verb
to become bigger
growth noun
the process of increasing
rapidly adverb
quickly
rapidity noun
speed

Commonly confused: rapid growth or rapid?

rapid growth vs rapid

Rapid means fast and is used for changes and movements; do not confuse it with 'rabid', meaning affected by rabies or extreme.

Practice

The start-up saw ____ growth after its app went viral, doubling its users each month.

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