speed-up

American

[speed-uhp] / ˈspidˌʌp /

noun

an increasing of speed.
an imposed increase in the rate of production of a worker without a corresponding increase in the rate of pay.

speed up British

verb

to increase or cause to increase in speed or rate; accelerate

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

an instance of this; acceleration

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

speed up Idioms

Accelerate, expedite, increase the rate, as in The car speeded up as it went downhill, or It's difficult to speed up production without new equipment. [Late 1800s]

Usage

The past tense and past participle of speed up is speeded up , not sped up

Etymology

Origin of speed-up

First recorded in 1920–25; noun use of verb phrase speed up

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

speed-up speed up

Hybrid computing often leads to a speed-up in a particular task, as was the case here.

From Barron's ● Mar. 10, 2026

"The speed-up couldn't come sooner for patients who need help now."

From Science Daily ● Feb. 21, 2026

Derek Lessard of TD Cowen says in a report that this acquisition should help speed-up M&A and deliver more meaningful synergies over time, especially once the new business is integrated into the broader company’s operations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2025

Further information released by the Ministry of Justice said it would also speed-up fire safety works in other parts of the prison estate to create useable space.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2024

But Ashe, himself, could not agree to a speed-up.

From The Defiant Agents by Andre Norton

It also would give the City Council more flexibility in approving taller buildings and set deadlines to speed up rulings from the City Planning Commission.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2026

Its progression can speed up or slow down depending on how entropy changes within the system.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly urged the US to speed up deliveries of its Patriots - the only effective weapon in downing Russia's deadly ballistic missiles.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

These popular products are used for a variety of reasons, including to speed up muscle recovery and wound healing, improve sleep or help people lose weight.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 28, 2026