speed-up

[ speed-uhp ]

/ ˈspidˌʌp /

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noun

an increasing of speed.

an imposed increase in the rate of production of a worker without a corresponding increase in the rate of pay.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of speed-up

First recorded in 1920–25; noun use of verb phrase speed up

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use speed-up in a sentence

The rest of us get meaningful information that may speed up the development of the next great medical intervention.
The Upside of Ebola (Yes, There May Actually Be One)|Nick Gillespie|October 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As a result, a satellite passing over a higher-mass region would speed up very slightly, and slow down over a lower-mass one.
Glaciers Lose 204 Billion Tons of Ice in Three Years|Matthew R. Francis|October 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The administration has been trying to speed up the delivery of F-16 fighter jets and 24 Apache helicopters to Iraq.
Exclusive: Putin’s Pilots Set to Fly Over Iraq|Josh Rogin|July 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Food and Drug Administration has taken steps to speed up the process for approving cancer drugs.
How Big Pharma Holds Back in the War on Cancer|ProPublica|April 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

But the most bizarre aspect was how time seemed to slow down and speed up without warning.
The JFK Assassination: The Long Weekend That Never Ended|Malcolm Jones|November 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Sara Lee heard his car going at its usual breakneck speed up the street, and went to the door.
The Amazing Interlude|Mary Roberts Rinehart
He climbed up the hand-and footholds the sea-monster lamp disclosed, wishing the mermen ahead would speed up.
Star Born|Andre Norton
He pulled his throttle back, shot the speed up, rumbling down the hill, toward the village.
The Onslaught from Rigel|Fletcher Pratt
He frowned and bit his moustache, and in the annoyance of the moment spurred his horse full speed up the castle road.
The Pagan's Cup|Fergus Hume
It was indeed Blant, making desperate speed up the steep slope.
Mothering on Perilous|Lucy S. Furman

British Dictionary definitions for speed-up

speed up

verb (adverb)

to increase or cause to increase in speed or rate; accelerate

noun speed-up

an instance of this; acceleration

usage for speed up

The past tense and past participle of speed up is speeded up, not sped up

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 Idioms and Phrases with speed-up