accelerate
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
to start moving faster or to increase speed.
to increase in speed or velocity. This sense is frequently used intransitively when describing vehicles or moving bodies.
Simple“The car began to accelerate as it reached the open highway.”
In context“The driver waited until he had cleared the residential zone before he began to accelerate smoothly onto the main thoroughfare.”
UsageOften used without an object when referring to a vehicle's motion.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
to make something happen sooner or more quickly than expected.
to cause a process or series of events to happen more quickly or earlier than originally anticipated.
Simple“The hot weather will accelerate the growth of the plants in the garden.”
In context“The government introduced new tax incentives designed to accelerate the transition toward renewable energy sources over the next decade.”
UsageTakes a direct object, such as a process, growth, or a schedule.
- 03 C1 Advanced
to change how fast or in what direction something is moving.
to undergo or cause a change in velocity, including changes in direction even if speed remains constant.
Simple“In physics, an object can accelerate even if its speed stays the same but its direction changes.”
In context“A particle entering the magnetic field will accelerate toward the positive electrode due to the electromagnetic force exerted upon it.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
to help a student finish their studies faster than usual.
to enable a student to complete an academic course or program in less than the standard time.
Simple“The school allows gifted students to accelerate their learning by taking advanced classes.”
In context“By earning college credits during high school, she was able to accelerate her degree and graduate a full year early.”
Synonymsfast track
Usage accelerate process
“The wildfires have also prompted calls within the Labour party to accelerate action against the climate crisis.”
“Electric motorcycle sales are surging in Pakistan, as wartime prices accelerate the pivot away from fossil fuels in the developing world.”
First attested in the 1520s. Either from Latin accelerātus, perfect passive participle of accelerō (“to accelerate, hasten”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), formed from ad + celerō (“to hasten”), which is from celer (“quick”) (see celerity), or back-formation from acceleration.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.