decelerate
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to decrease the velocity of.
He decelerates the bobsled when he nears a curve.
-
to slow the rate of increase of.
efforts to decelerate inflation.
verb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of decelerate
First recorded in 1895–1900; de- + (ac)celerate
Explanation
Use the verb decelerate when you want to slow down, like when you realize you are missing important moments in life by racing around, trying to do everything yourself. If you make an effort to decelerate, you might be happier — and healthier. Decelerate is the opposite of accelerate, which means "to go faster." Decelerate often describes slowing a vehicle, but it can relate to nearly anything, like a friendship that begins with hanging out nearly every day but decelerates when you move to a new town or get busy with school and sports. It doesn't mean the friendship is ending or over, just that the pace is now a little slower.
Vocabulary lists containing decelerate
ACT Vocabulary List
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Thirteen Reasons Why
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List 7
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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.
But for fiscal 2026, the company expects same-store sales growth to decelerate to between 2.2% and 2.7%, with the midpoint of that range slightly below the current FactSet consensus of 2.5%.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 12, 2026
"You just decelerate so much before corners," Norris said.
From BBC • Mar. 7, 2026
If wage growth continues to decelerate, the gap could widen further, leaving the economy more vulnerable to shocks.
From Barron's • Dec. 19, 2025
Citi thinks the decent sales trend could continue during the upcoming festive season, although its momentum may decelerate because of the higher base of comparison.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 22, 2025
In Darwin's scheme, the rate of change of an organism was generally fixed, while the rate of natural selection could be amplified to accelerate evolution or dampened to decelerate it.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
