speed-up

[ speed-uhp ]

noun

1. an increasing of speed.
2. an imposed increase in the rate of production of a worker without a corresponding increase in the rate of pay.

speed up

verb

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

noun

1. an instance of this; acceleration

Usage

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of speed-up¹

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

Idioms and Phrases

Accelerate, expedite, increase the rate, as in The car speeded up as it went downhill , or It's difficult to speed up production without new equipment . [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

The rest of us get meaningful information that may speed up the development of the next great medical intervention.

From The 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.

From The Daily Beast

The administration has been trying to speed up the delivery of F-16 fighter jets and 24 Apache helicopters to Iraq.

From The Daily Beast

The Food and Drug Administration has taken steps to speed up the process for approving cancer drugs.

From The Daily Beast

But the most bizarre aspect was how time seemed to slow down and speed up without warning.

From The Daily Beast

Sara Lee heard his car going at its usual breakneck speed up the street, and went to the door.

From Project Gutenberg

He climbed up the hand-and footholds the sea-monster lamp disclosed, wishing the mermen ahead would speed up.

From Project Gutenberg

He pulled his throttle back, shot the speed up, rumbling down the hill, toward the village.

From Project Gutenberg

He frowned and bit his moustache, and in the annoyance of the moment spurred his horse full speed up the castle road.

From Project Gutenberg

It was indeed Blant, making desperate speed up the steep slope.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abate
• allay
• ameliorate
• calm
• expedite
• facilitate
• further
• improve
• lessen
• lift
• mitigate
• moderate
• promote
• relax
• relieve
• simplify
• soften
• soothe
• speed