skyrocket - Wiktionary, the free dictionary (original) (raw)

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From sky + rocket.

skyrocket (plural skyrockets)

  1. A type of firework that uses a solid rocket engine to rise quickly into the sky where it emits a variety of effects such as stars, bangs, crackles, etc.
  2. (by extension) A rebuke, a scolding.
  3. (UK, Australia, rhyming slang) A pocket.

type of firework

skyrocket (third-person singular simple present skyrockets, present participle skyrocketing, simple past and past participle skyrocketed)

  1. (informal, idiomatic, intransitive) To rise or increase suddenly and extremely; to shoot up; to surge or spike.
    The shortage caused prices to skyrocket.
    • 2013 March, David S. Senchina, “Athletics and Herbal Supplements”, in American Scientist‎[1], volume 101, number 2, archived from the original on 16 May 2013, page 134:
      Athletes' use of herbal supplements has skyrocketed in the past two decades. At the top of the list of popular herbs are echinacea and ginseng, whereas garlic, St. John's wort, soybean, ephedra and others are also surging in popularity or have been historically prevalent.
    • 2020 March 21, Tami Luhby, “Hospitals press for $100 billion in Congressional stimulus package”, in CNN‎[2], Atlanta, Georgia: Warner Bros. Discovery:
      Executives from three hospitals across the country detailed their dire fiscal conditions on a conference call Saturday hosted by the American Hospital Association. This may force some to close their doors just as the need for care skyrockets amid the pandemic.
    • 2022 October 5, Lauren Harby, “What We Know About Celine Dion's Health Battle”, in The List‎[3]:
      Her career skyrocketed to new heights with the debut of her years-long Las Vegas residencies.
    • 2024 April 3, Richard Foster, “Training the next generation of engineers”, in RAIL, number 1006, page 51:
      The cost of keeping historic machinery operational has skyrocketed.
    • 2024 October 24, Bryan Mena, “Here’s why mortgage rates are rising after the Fed’s rate cut”, in CNN‎[4], Atlanta, Georgia: Warner Bros. Discovery:
      Every percentage point on a mortgage rate makes a big difference for that monthly payment. But a persistent lack of homes on the market is continuing to push up home prices, which climbed in September for the 15th consecutive month, according to NAR data — on top of skyrocketing home insurance costs in some markets.
  2. (informal, idiomatic, transitive) To cause to increase suddenly and extremely.
    • 2014, Carrie Denny, The Bride's Instruction Manual, page 117:
      This is an area you'll have to work out in precise detail, as it's the area most likely to skyrocket your costs—or, without careful planning, leave you with thirsty guests.

to increase suddenly and extremely