〜一方だ: meaning and usage

How to form it

• verb (dictionary form)+一方だ
• verb (dictionary form)+一方である

How it is used

A change keeps going in one direction without stopping: 'just keeps getting…'. It follows change verbs such as 「増える」 or 「悪くなる」 and often describes something bad. Compared with 「〜つつある」, it stresses the one-way trend.

Examples

1. 心の悩みが増えるとともに、体の問題も増える一方だ。

   As your mental worries increase, your physical problems also keep increasing.

2. 雨が続いて、川の水が増える一方だ。

   With the rain going on and on, the river just keeps rising.

3. 仕事が忙しくなって、ストレスがたまる一方だ。

   Work has got busier, and my stress just keeps building up.