accelerate — English Dictionary

Verb

1. To cause to move faster; to quicken the motion of; to add to the speed of.

   Usage

   • Transitive

2. To quicken the natural or ordinary progression or process of.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   to accelerate the growth of a plant, the increase of wealth, etc.

   The company plans to accelerate its growth with new marketing strategies.

   More examples (2)

   She had to accelerate her work pace to meet the deadline.

   Nevertheless, it is clear that the global energy demand for air-conditioning will grow substantially as nations become more affluent, with the consequences of climate change potentially accelerating the demand.

3. To cause a change of velocity.

   Usage

   • Transitive

4. To hasten, as the occurrence of an event.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   to accelerate our departure

5. To enable a student to finish a course of study in less than normal time.

   Usage

   • Transitive

6. To become faster; to begin to move more quickly.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

   Examples

   The car began to accelerate as soon as the light turned green.

7. Grow; increase.

   Usage

   • Intransitive

Adjective

1. Accelerated; quickened; hastened; hurried.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • not-comparable

   Examples

   ... a general knowledg of the definition of motion, and of the distinction of natural and violent, even and accelerate, and the like, sufficing.

Verb

1. move faster

   Synonyms

   speed upspeedquicken

   Antonyms

   decelerate

   Broader terms

   intensifydeepen

   Examples

   The car accelerated

2. cause to move faster

   Synonyms

   speedspeed up

   Antonyms

   decelerate

   Broader terms

   changealtermodify

   Examples

   He accelerated the car