1 accelerate | Definition of accelerate
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accelerate

verb
ac路​cel路​er路​ate | \ -l蓹-藢r膩t How to pronounce accelerate (audio) \
accelerated; accelerating

Definition of accelerate

intransitive verb

1 : to move faster : to gain speed The car slowly accelerated. The pace of change has accelerated in recent months.
2 : to progress from grade to grade more rapidly than usual : to follow a speeded-up educational program

transitive verb

1 : to bring about at an earlier time Circumstances accelerated their departure.
2 : to cause to move faster accelerated his steps also : to cause to undergo acceleration
3a : to hasten the progress or development of accelerate our efforts
b : increase accelerate food production
4a : to enable (a student) to complete a course in less than usual time
b : to speed up (something, such as a course of study)
Other Words from accelerate Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about accelerate

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Examples of accelerate in a Sentence

She stepped on the gas and the car accelerated. The plane accelerated down the runway. She stepped on the gas and accelerated the car. He says that cutting taxes will help to accelerate economic growth. The rate of economic growth has continued to accelerate.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 And as the legal cases against the opioid industry accelerate, so do concerns about how the money from verdicts or settlements will be spent. — Washington Post, "What lies ahead following Oklahoma opioid judgment," 27 Aug. 2019 And as the legal cases against the opioid industry accelerate, so do concerns about how the money from verdicts or settlements will be spent. — CBS News, "What lies ahead following the Oklahoma Johnson & Johnson ruling," 27 Aug. 2019 And as the legal cases against the opioid industry accelerate, so do concerns about how the money from verdicts or settlements will be spent. — Geoff Mulvihill, chicagotribune.com, "Opioid crisis lawsuits: 10 things to know about the drug industry鈥檚 legal reckoning," 27 Aug. 2019 To really look inside them all might accelerate the collapse of the entire colony. — Matt Farwell, The New Republic, "Jeffrey Epstein Chose New Mexico for a Reason," 15 Aug. 2019 Banks can accelerate the process by building fast, low-cost systems that enable direct transfers between accounts, such as iDEAL in the Netherlands or Swish in Sweden. — The Economist, "High internet use and state support help countries ditch cash," 1 Aug. 2019 Her efforts to draw more participants into the programs could accelerate if a grant application to fund Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs is approved. — Julie Gallant, Ramona Sentinel, "Library manager stays close to country roots," 11 July 2019 If the club fail to win over Pogba, United will accelerate moves for some of their midfield targets, although it is believed that Solskjaer is eager to add a few new faces regardless of what happens with Pogba. — SI.com, "Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Set for Paul Pogba Talks as Man Utd Ready Sean Longstaff Approach," 2 July 2019 Warmer temperatures could accelerate armyworm reproduction. — Gwynn Guilford, Quartz, "Ravenous armyworms are eating their way across China," 20 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'accelerate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of accelerate

circa 1522, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

History and Etymology for accelerate

borrowed from Latin acceler膩tus, past participle of acceler膩re "to add speed to, hasten the occurrence of, go quickly," from ad- ad- + celer膩re "to hasten," verbal derivative of celer "swift, speedy," perhaps going back to *keli-li-/ri-, derivative from the Indo-European base of Greek k茅lomai, kel茅sthai "urge, exhort," kel膿t-, k茅l膿s "swift horse, charger"

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More Definitions for accelerate

accelerate

verb
ac路​cel路​er路​ate | \ ak-藞se-l蓹-藢r膩t How to pronounce accelerate (audio) \
accelerated; accelerating

Kids Definition of accelerate

1 : to move or cause to move faster The car accelerated going downhill.
2 : to cause to happen more quickly Using plant food accelerates growth.

accelerate

verb
ac路​cel路​er路​ate | \ ik-藞sel-蓹-藢r膩t, ak- How to pronounce accelerate (audio) \
accelerated; accelerating

Medical Definition of accelerate

transitive verb

: to cause to move faster or speed up accelerated speech and motor activity in manic patients also : to cause to undergo acceleration

intransitive verb

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