twentyfold

twentyfold

The company's profits increased twentyfold over the last decade.

Definition

  1. Adjective:

    • Multiplicative by a factor of twenty: "twentyfold" describes something that is twenty times as great or as many.
    • Example context: A twentyfold increase in production means production has multiplied by twenty.

  2. Adverb:

    • In a manner that multiplies by twenty: "twentyfold" can also modify a verb, indicating that something happens or is done twenty times as much.
    • Example context: The population grew twentyfold over the century, meaning it became twenty times larger.
Usage Examples

  • Adjective:

    • The company reported a twentyfold profit increase this quarter. (The profit multiplied by twenty.)
    • There has been a twentyfold rise in online sales since the pandemic. (Online sales are now twenty times higher.)

  • Adverb:

    • The value of the property has increased twentyfold in the last decade. (It is now worth twenty times its original value.)
    • Her investment grew twentyfold after the stock split. (It multiplied by twenty.)
Advanced Usage

  • "twentyfold return": used in finance or business to describe an investment that yields twenty times the original amount.

    • The venture capital firm sought a twentyfold return on its early-stage investments. (They aimed for a twenty times profit.)

  • "twentyfold expansion": used in science or geography to describe a massive increase in size or scope.

    • The glacier experienced a twentyfold expansion during the ice age. (It grew to twenty times its previous area.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Twenty (adj/n): the number 20.

    • There are twenty students in the class. (The cardinal number 20.)

  • Fold (suffix): a suffix meaning "multiplied by" or "having a certain number of parts."

    • A twofold increase means doubling; a hundredfold increase means multiplying by one hundred.
Synonyms

  • Twenty times: the equivalent phrase.

    • The cost rose twenty times over five years. (Same as twentyfold.)

  • Multiplied by twenty: a more literal synonym.

    • The yield was multiplied by twenty after the new fertilizer was used. (Same meaning.)
Related Idioms

  • By leaps and bounds: not a direct synonym, but used to describe rapid growth.

    • Her skills improved by leaps and bounds, though not quite twentyfold. (Very quickly, but not necessarily exactly twenty times.)

  • A quantum leap: a sudden large increase.

    • The technology advanced by a quantum leap, but not a twentyfold one. (A dramatic change, but not necessarily multiplicative by twenty.)