acceleration

[ak-sel-uh-rey-shuhn, ik-]

noun

1. the act of accelerating; increase of speed or velocity.

2. a change in velocity.

3. Mechanics.,  the time rate of change of velocity with respect to magnitude or direction; the derivative of velocity with respect to time.

acceleration

/ ækˌsɛləˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of accelerating or the state of being accelerated

2. a. the rate of increase of speed or the rate of change of velocity

3. a. the power to accelerate

acceleration

1. The rate of change of the velocity of a moving body. An increase in the magnitude of the velocity of a moving body (an increase in speed) is called a positive acceleration; a decrease in speed is called a negative acceleration. Acceleration, like velocity, is a vector quantity, so any change in the direction of a moving body is also an acceleration. A moving body that follows a curved path, even when its speed remains constant, is undergoing acceleration.

2. See more at gravity relativity

acceleration

1. A change in the velocity of an object.

The most familiar kind of acceleration is a change in the speed of an object. An object that stays at the same speed but changes direction, however, is also being accelerated. (See force.)

Other Word Forms

• nonacceleration noun
• overacceleration noun
• reacceleration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of acceleration¹

First recorded in 1525–35, acceleration is from the Latin word accelerātiōn- (stem of accelerātiō ). See accelerate, -ion

Example Sentences

To enforce psychologically the old Jim Crow arrangements, there was an acceleration in the lynching of black Americans after the war.

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The U.S. led the acceleration in IPOs in terms of proceeds, with the best quarter since 2021, according to the report.

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Continued productivity acceleration is by far the most positive potential path for the U.S.

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There was also a recent acceleration in corporate sales, which rose 8%, as surveys indicated that about 90% of companies expected travel volume to either increase or remain steady in 2026.

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Stocks, bonds and gold would all suffer from the Fed hitting the brakes when they’re positioned for acceleration.

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