What does multiplying mean?
Multiplying is the present participle of multiply, a word that means increasing something in number or amount and also performing the mathematical operation of repeated addition. In everyday use, multiplying often suggests growth, expansion, or rapid increase: a company may be multiplying its locations, while a population may be multiplying because of a sudden rise in the birth rate. In mathematics, it refers to combining equal groups of quantities, such as multiplying a price by a quantity to calculate a total. The word can function as a gerund, as in “the multiplying of costs,” or as an adjective before a noun, as in “multiplying businesses.” Its related noun, multiplication, is especially common in formal, educational, and technical writing. The word belongs to a large family that includes multiple, multiplicity, and multiplication, all reflecting the basic idea of making or having many.
As a verb, multiplying means to increase the number or amount of something, or to perform the mathematical operation of combining equal groups.
"The shop is multiplying its range of products before the holiday season."
The form is used both in ongoing actions and as the present participle in compound forms such as “multiplying rapidly.”
As a participial adjective, multiplying means increasing or becoming more numerous.
"Multiplying businesses are creating demand for more office space."
This use is especially natural before a plural noun and can describe growth that is noticeable, rapid, or ongoing.
Multiplying comes from the Latin idea of making many, the same root behind multiple, multiplication, and multiplicity.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does multiplying come from?
Multiplying derives from the English verb multiply, which came through Middle English from Latin multiplicare, meaning “to make many” or “increase in number.” The Latin word is associated with multi- (“many”) and plicare (“to fold”), expressing the idea of multiplying or multiplying out. English developed several derivatives from this root, including multiple, multiplication, and multiplicity, as well as the verb forms multiplied and multiplies.
Related word forms
How multiplying is actually used
Multiplying is a standard present-participle and gerund form. As a gerund, it can name an activity, as in “the multiplying of prices”; before a noun, it commonly functions as a participial adjective. The related noun multiplication is often preferred in more formal or technical contexts.