expedite
Americanverb (used with object)
adjective
verb
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to hasten the progress of; hasten or assist
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to do or process (something, such as business matters) with speed and efficiency
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rare to dispatch (documents, messages, etc)
adjective
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unimpeded or prompt; expeditious
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alert or prepared
Other Word Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has expeditedperfect 3rd person singular
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have expeditedperfect
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have been expeditingperfect progressive
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are expeditingprogressive
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has been expeditingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am expeditingprogressive 1st person singular
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is expeditingprogressive 3rd person singular
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expeditessingular 3rd person
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expeditingparticiple
Past
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had expeditedperfect
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had been expeditingperfect progressive
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expeditedparticiple
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were expeditingprogressive plural
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was expeditingprogressive singular
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expeditedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of expedite
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Latin expedītus (past participle of expedīre “to disengage, set the feet free”), equivalent to ex- ex- 1 + ped- (stem of pēs ) foot + -ītus adjective suffix ( see -ite 2)
Explanation
To expedite something is to make it go faster or speed up the process. Expediting that package might get it to Alaska by tomorrow, instead of next Tuesday. If someone says, "Let me expedite the process," that's probably a good thing: they're offering to speed things up. If you've ever waited in line a long time, then you must have wished someone could expedite things. A driver can expedite his commute by going in the faster car-pool lane. Whenever there's a lot of paperwork for something, it's nice to know someone who can expedite the process. When you see the word expedite, think "Make faster!"
Vocabulary lists containing expedite
Grade 10, List 5
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "E"
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This Week in Words: April 1 - 6, 2018
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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.
Mathis urged Fifa to drop the ticket prices, as well as calling for the US government to expedite visa applications for fans hoping to attend.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
The Justice Department also reauthorized single-drug lethal injections in an effort to expedite capital punishment cases.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
Trump's order directed the Department of Justice to expedite the process.
From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026
Altogether, the order could expedite the approval of a new drug by as many as four months.
From Salon • Apr. 22, 2026
Watson ran down to the metal shop in the basement of the Cavendish labs to expedite the fabrication of the modeling parts.
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.
