speed-up
noun
an increasing of speed.
speed-up
American
[speed-uhp]
/ ˈspidˌʌp /
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.
speed up
British
verb
noun
speed up
Idioms
Usage
The past tense and past participle of speed up is speeded up , not sped up
Etymology
Origin of speed-up
First recorded in 1920–25; noun use of verb phrase speed up
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.
See Examples For:
This speed-up could have been caused by ocean conditions, the effect of which is not yet well understood.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026
Hybrid computing often leads to a speed-up in a particular task, as was the case here.
From Barron's ● Mar. 10, 2026
Derek Lessard of TD Cowen says in a report that this acquisition should help speed-up M&A and deliver more meaningful synergies over time, especially once the new business is integrated into the broader company’s operations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 13, 2025
That speed-up carried over to the postseason, where nine-inning World Series games averaged 3:01, the fastest since 1996.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 16, 2023
It is my hope, indeed, that the new speed-up of production will cause many businesses which now pay below the minimum standards to bring their wages up.
From The Fireside Chats of Franklin Delano Roosevelt by Franklin Delano Roosevelt
It said the use of private finance would help speed up delivery and control costs.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
Newsom cast the bills as part of a package to help speed up the construction of much-needed housing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
The findings point to disease processes that may be reversible and also highlight a new human brain tissue platform derived from stem cells that could speed up the search for treatments.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 1, 2026
He said Sparks’ strong connection to Nike’s leadership in the U.S. will help give her the resources to speed up product development.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026
As soon as he turned down Burman Street, Bryson could hear their feet quicken, hear the footfalls on the pavement speed up like rain going from drizzle to downpour.
From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds
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.
