expedite

[ ek-spi-dahyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ex·pe·dit·ed, ex·pe·dit·ing.

1. to speed up the progress of; hasten:

   to expedite shipments.

   Synonyms: hurry, accelerate, push, quicken

   Antonyms: delay

2. to accomplish promptly, as a piece of business; dispatch:

   to expedite one's duties.

3. to issue or dispatch, as an official document or letter.

adjective

1. Obsolete. ready for action; alert.

expedite

/ ˈɛkspɪˌdaɪt /

verb

1. to hasten the progress of; hasten or assist
2. to do or process (something, such as business matters) with speed and efficiency
3. rare.
   to dispatch (documents, messages, etc)

adjective

1. unimpeded or prompt; expeditious
2. alert or prepared

Word History and Origins

Origin of expedite¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin expedītus (past participle of expedīre “to disengage, set the feet free”), equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + ped- (stem of pēs ) foot + -ītus adjective suffix ( -ite ² )

Word History and Origins

Origin of expedite¹

C17: from Latin expedīre, literally: to free the feet (as from a snare), hence, liberate, from ex- ¹+ pēs foot

Example Sentences

The board also increased Metro’s capital budget this fiscal year by $255 million because of a multiyear platform replacement project that transit officials expedited because of reduced ridership.

From Washington Post

The plan also includes measures to expedite vaccines for school workers and strict metrics on when schools or classrooms would close.

From Washington Post

Others use the software to expedite the development of new drugs or make race cars faster.

From Voice of San Diego

District officials are also talking to San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria about expediting “the vaccination of teachers and other staff necessary to the reopening of schools as soon as they are cleared to receive the vaccine,” Magee said.

From Voice of San Diego

It should help Google expedite review removals and process the reviews much faster.

From Search Engine Land

Holmes seemed to expedite matters promptly, amid rumors that she was frightened of the Church of Scientology.

From The Daily Beast

The U.S. government should expedite their cases while showing some modicum of flexibility in reviewing their documentation.

From The Daily Beast

Cuellar and Cornyn wanted to expedite the deportation of the kids from Central America.

From The Daily Beast

They can exacerbate splits within a ruling leadership, foment popular unrest, or expedite a dwindling current account.

From The Daily Beast

To expedite the calendar in the Senate requires something called unanimous consent, and unanimous means unanimous.

From The Daily Beast

In the second, it would greatly simplify and expedite many a charitable task.

From Project Gutenberg

Those who want to make speeches on those resolutions could do it to-night; we should thus save time and expedite business.

From Project Gutenberg

He at the same time begged Mavrocordato to expedite the departure of the fleet, and to send the Greek deputies to London.

From Project Gutenberg

Finally, I did my utmost to expedite the move of all the British Forces to the northern theatre.

From Project Gutenberg

To expedite matters, as the Sunday school was to assemble at a quarter past seven, my mother dressed me before supper.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• accelerate
• assist
• facilitate
• hasten
• promote
• quicken
• speed
• urge