ますます

ますます is an adverb meaning "more and more", "increasingly", or "ever more". It describes a situation or trend that is continuously intensifying or progressing in one direction over time. It can be used for both positive and negative changes.

Increasing trends

When paired with positive adjectives or verbs, ますます expresses that something is getting better, bigger, stronger, etc.

Decreasing or worsening trends

When paired with negative adjectives or downward-trend verbs, ますます conveys that something is getting worse, smaller, fewer, etc. In these cases it often translates as "less and less" or "increasingly (bad)."

Usage notes

ますます is placed before the verb or adjective it modifies, just like other adverbs. It is used in both formal and informal speech and writing, and frequently appears in news, essays, and everyday conversation. It is sometimes written in kanji as ますます益々, especially in formal or written contexts.

Compared to similar expressions like だんだん (gradually) or どんどん (rapidly), ますます emphasizes that an already existing trend is further intensifying. While だんだん can describe a change from zero, ますます implies the change was already underway and is now accelerating or continuing even more.