accelerate

[ak-sel-uh-reyt]

verb (used with object)

accelerated, accelerating 

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

   to accelerate economic growth.

2. to hasten the occurrence of.

   to accelerate the fall of a government.

3. Mechanics.,  to change the velocity of (a body) or the rate of (motion); cause to undergo acceleration.

4. to reduce the time required for (a course of study) by intensifying the work, eliminating detail, etc.

verb (used without object)

accelerated, accelerating 

1. to move or go faster; increase in speed.

2. to progress or develop faster.

accelerate

/ ækˈsɛləˌreɪt /

verb

1. to go, occur, or cause to go or occur more quickly; speed up

2. (tr) to cause to happen sooner than expected

3. (tr) to increase the velocity of (a body, reaction, etc); cause acceleration

Other Word Forms

• accelerable adjective
• acceleratedly adverb
• overaccelerate verb
• reaccelerate verb
• self-accelerating adjective
• unaccelerated adjective
• accelerative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of accelerate¹

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”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of accelerate¹

C16: from Latin accelerātus, from accelerāre to go faster, from ad- (intensive) + celerāre to hasten, from celer swift

Related Words

• advance 
• expedite 
• further 
• hasten 
• open up 
• quicken 
• spur 
• step up 
• stimulate