# accelerate

/ækˈsɛɫɝˌeɪt/ (US) · /ɐksˈɛləɹˌeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/accelerate
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to move faster

verb · CEFR B2

to start moving faster or to increase speed.

For teachers: to increase in speed or velocity. This sense is frequently used intransitively when describing vehicles or moving bodies.

- The car began to accelerate as it reached the open highway.
- The driver waited until he had cleared the residential zone before he began to accelerate smoothly onto the main thoroughfare.

Usage: Often used without an object when referring to a vehicle's motion.

### 2. to happen faster

verb · CEFR B2

to make something happen sooner or more quickly than expected.

For teachers: to cause a process or series of events to happen more quickly or earlier than originally anticipated.

- The hot weather will accelerate the growth of the plants in the garden.
- The government introduced new tax incentives designed to accelerate the transition toward renewable energy sources over the next decade.

Usage: Takes a direct object, such as a process, growth, or a schedule.

### 3. physics

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to change how fast or in what direction something is moving.

For teachers: to undergo or cause a change in velocity, including changes in direction even if speed remains constant.

- In physics, an object can accelerate even if its speed stays the same but its direction changes.
- A particle entering the magnetic field will accelerate toward the positive electrode due to the electromagnetic force exerted upon it.

### 4. education

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to help a student finish their studies faster than usual.

For teachers: to enable a student to complete an academic course or program in less than the standard time.

- The school allows gifted students to accelerate their learning by taking advanced classes.
- By earning college credits during high school, she was able to accelerate her degree and graduate a full year early.

## Examples

- The car began to accelerate as it reached the highway.
- The government decided to accelerate the vaccination program to protect more people before winter.
- While the initial growth was slow, the company managed to accelerate its expansion once it secured international funding and streamlined its supply chain.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.