What Gets Bigger the More You Take Away? is one of the most famous riddles in the world. It sounds impossible, which is the fun! Think it over, then tap Show Answer.
Riddle: What gets bigger the more you take away?
Answer: Hole
Need a hint?
You might dig one at the beach with a spade.
Answer and explanation (spoiler!)
The answer is a hole.
Normally, taking things away makes something smaller. But when you dig, every spadeful of sand or earth you take away makes the hole bigger.
The riddle flips how we usually think about adding and taking away, which is why it catches so many people out.
Difficulty: Easy · Best for: ages 6 and up
Similar riddles
- What Can You Add to a Bucket Full of Water to Make It Lighter?
- What Can Be Any Size or Shape and Gets Bigger the More You Take From It?
- What Gets Wetter and Wetter the More It Dries?
- What Is Full of Holes but Still Holds Water?
FAQ
Are there other answers?
Some people say “a debt” or “a gap”, but “a hole” is the classic answer.
How old is this riddle?
It’s a very old riddle that has been told in many languages, and it’s still one of the most-searched riddles today.