rate of change

noun phrase

: a value that results from dividing the change in a function of a variable by the change in the variable
velocity is the rate of change in distance with respect to time

Examples of rate of change in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Tesla’s 11-week rate of change is now at -30%, and the decline looks even worse when factoring in intraday data. Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2025 Human populations and ecosystems are struggling to keep up with the rate of change. Benji Jones, Vox, 28 Jan. 2025 Much of this rapid rate of change was driven by new ways of composing, experiencing and sharing music via vinyl, cassettes, CDs and mp3s. The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 27 Jan. 2025 Given the fast rate of change in technology and companies’ scaling challenges, looking for candidates who have the right balance of experience along with a growth mindset is critical. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rate of change

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rate of change was in 1876

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rate of change.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rate%20of%20change. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rate of change

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!