accelerate

[ ak-sel-uh-reyt ]
/ ækˈsɛl əˌreɪt /

verb (used with object), ac·cel·er·at·ed, ac·cel·er·at·ing.

to cause faster or greater activity, development, progress, advancement, etc., in: to accelerate economic growth.
to hasten the occurrence of: to accelerate the fall of a government.
Mechanics. to change the velocity of (a body) or the rate of (motion); cause to undergo acceleration.
to reduce the time required for (a course of study) by intensifying the work, eliminating detail, etc.

verb (used without object), ac·cel·er·at·ed, ac·cel·er·at·ing.

to move or go faster; increase in speed.
to progress or develop faster.

Origin of accelerate

1515–25; < Latin accelerātus speeded up (past participle of accelerāre), equivalent to ac- ac- + celer swift + -ātus -ate1

OTHER WORDS FROM accelerate

Example sentences from the Web for accelerate

British Dictionary definitions for accelerate

accelerate
/ (ækˈsɛləˌreɪt) /

verb

to go, occur, or cause to go or occur more quickly; speed up
(tr) to cause to happen sooner than expected
(tr) to increase the velocity of (a body, reaction, etc); cause acceleration

Derived forms of accelerate

accelerable, adjective accelerative or acceleratory, adjective

Word Origin for accelerate

C16: from Latin accelerātus, from accelerāre to go faster, from ad- (intensive) + celerāre to hasten, from celer swift