What does skyrocketed mean?
Skyrocketed is the past tense and past participle of skyrocket, a vivid English verb meaning to rise or increase suddenly and dramatically, usually to an unusually high level. It is especially common when describing prices, demand, sales, attention, or popularity: an event may cause interest to skyrocket, while costs can skyrocket overnight. The word can also be used attributively as an adjective, as in “skyrocketed demand,” although “skyrocketing demand” is generally smoother when the demand itself continues to rise. Skyrocketed is common in journalism, business writing, and conversation across British and American English. It is more expressive and attention-grabbing than neutral alternatives such as “increased sharply” or “rose dramatically,” but it remains suitable for formal contexts when the scale and speed of the change are genuinely striking. The image is one of sudden, almost vertical ascent, borrowed from the steep climb of a rocket and extended to any dramatic upward change.
Rose or increased rapidly, especially to a very high level.
"The company’s sales skyrocketed following a national advertising campaign."
Usually intransitive. It is especially common in journalism and business contexts.
Having risen or increased rapidly to a very high level.
"The launch failed to control skyrocketed demand for the limited-edition product."
This attributive use is based on the verb’s past participle and is common in phrases such as “skyrocketed costs” and “skyrocketed demand.”
When something skyrockets, it seems to take off like a rocket and reach new heights almost without warning.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of skyrocketed
Skyrocket is an English compound formed from sky and rocket. Rocket entered English through French from Italian, while the compound was formed in English to describe rapid ascent into the sky. It was later extended metaphorically to steep increases in prices, demand, popularity, and other quantities; its relatives rocketry and rocketeer belong to the same word family.
Related word forms
How skyrocketed is actually used
Common in journalism, business writing, and everyday conversation in both British and American English. It is more vivid than neutral alternatives such as “increased sharply” or “rose dramatically,” but it is appropriate in formal contexts when the speed and scale of the change are striking. As an attributive form, “skyrocketed” usually describes something that has risen sharply, as in “skyrocketed demand.”