Word
acceleration
Phoneticsac·cel·er·a·tion, stress on the fourth syllable
US/ˌækˌsɛɫɝˈeɪʃən/
UK/ɐksˌɛləɹˈeɪʃən/
Definitions
01increase in speed
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the act of moving faster or the process of something speeding up.
n. the act of accelerating or the state of being accelerated; a general increase in the speed of motion or action.
“The car's acceleration was so smooth that I didn't realize how fast we were going.”
“The driver felt a sudden surge of acceleration as the vehicle merged onto the motorway, quickly reaching the speed of the surrounding traffic.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02rate of change
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Science Technical
n. the measurement of how quickly an object's speed or direction changes.
n. the rate of change of velocity with respect to time, encompassing changes in both magnitude and direction.
“In physics class, we calculated the acceleration of a ball rolling down a hill.”
“The probe's acceleration was carefully monitored by ground control to ensure it entered the planet's orbit at the precise velocity required.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable noun in scientific contexts when referring to the concept rather than a specific value.
03faster progress
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Academic · Formal
n. an increase in the speed at which something happens or develops.
n. the advancement or hastening of a process, trend, or course of study.
“The government promised an acceleration of the new housing project.”
“Economists have noted a significant acceleration in the adoption of digital payment systems over the last fiscal quarter.”
Teaching tip
In educational contexts, this specifically refers to allowing gifted students to move through the curriculum faster than their peers.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Such lines form in response to the sharp acceleration in growth that takes place shortly after birth.” “The slower one would be appropriate for stop-and-go traffic, since the quicker acceleration would make it difficult to match the speed of the cars around you.” Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Italic *ad- Latin ad- Proto-Indo-European *kel-der. Latin celer Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin celerō Latin accelerō Proto-Indo-European *-tisder. Proto-Italic *-tjō Latin -tiō Latin accelerātiōder. English acceleration First attested in 1531. From French accélération or more likely directly from Latin accelerātiō (“a hastening, acceleration”). Equivalent to accelerate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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