Synonyms

accelerate

American

[ak-sel-uh-reyt] / ækˈsɛl əˌreɪt /

verb (used with object)

to cause faster or greater activity, development, progress, advancement, etc., in.

to accelerate economic growth.
to hasten the occurrence of.

to accelerate the fall of a government.
Mechanics. to change the velocity of (a body) or the rate of (motion); cause to undergo acceleration.
to reduce the time required for (a course of study) by intensifying the work, eliminating detail, etc.

verb (used without object)

to move or go faster; increase in speed.
to progress or develop faster.

accelerate British

/ ækˈsɛləˌreɪt /

verb

to go, occur, or cause to go or occur more quickly; speed up
(tr) to cause to happen sooner than expected
(tr) to increase the velocity of (a body, reaction, etc); cause 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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of accelerate

First recorded in 1515–25; from Latin accelerātus “sped up,” past participle of accelerāre “to speed up,” from ac- ac- + celerāre “to hasten, hurry” (from celer “swift”)

Explanation

Accelerate means to speed up. A car accelerates when you step on the gas. You can accelerate the process of getting a visa if you happen to know someone who works in the consulate. The fastest Amtrak trains are called the Acela line, a made-up word intended to suggest accelerate and therefore communicate that these trains are fast. If you are standing close to one when it zooms by, you may find yourself having an accelerated heart rate — they move pretty fast!

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing accelerate

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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.

He adds that he is focused on the company’s Alaska Accelerate strategy and hitting a $10 earnings per share target next year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

“A lower fee structure would go a long way toward improving managers’ standing with investors,” says Julian Klymochko, CEO of Accelerate, a Canadian financial-services company.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

Accelerate and streamline these processes and prioritize diplomacy.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2025

Among other changes, Mercedes has instigated a programme called Accelerate 25, which demands that 25% of all new hires come from an under-represented background.

From BBC • Dec. 4, 2024

Success is somewhere down the track; Before the chance is gone Accelerate your laggard pace, Swing on, I say, swing on - Hurry up!

From Poems of Progress by Wilcox, Ella Wheeler

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023