Describing trends - Vocabulary (IELTS Writing Task 1)

bottom out

(of prices, a bad situation, etc) to stop getting worse e.g. The recession is finally beginning to show signs of bottoming out.

halve

to reduce by a half; to make something reduce by a half e.g. The shares have halved in value. e.g. The company is halving it's prices.

level off/plateau (out)

to stay at a steady level after a period of growth or progress e.g. Prices have pretty much plateaued for now. e.g. Unemployment has at least plateaued out.

triple/ treble

to become or make something three times as much or as many e.g. Output should triple by next year. e.g. The figure has more than tripled to 67%.

fluctuate

to change frequently in amount, size, quality, etc. especially from one extreme to another e.g. fluctuating prices e.g. During the crisis, oil prices fluctuated between $20 to $40 a barrel.

plummet / plunge

to fall quickly and suddenly from a high level or position e.g. His spirit plummeted at the thought of meeting him. e.g. Share prices plummeted to an all-time low.

rocket / jump

to increase very quickly and suddenly e.g. The total has rocketed from 376 to 532. e.g. rocketing prices