What does "acceleration" mean?

1. (increase in speed) the act of moving faster or the process of something speeding up. 2. (rate of change) the measurement of how quickly an object's speed or direction changes. 3. (faster progress) an increase in the speed at which something happens or develops.

How do you use "acceleration"?

Often used as an uncountable noun in scientific contexts when referring to the concept rather than a specific value.

acceleration

US //ˌækˌsɛɫɝˈeɪʃən// UK //ɐksˌɛləɹˈeɪʃən// ac·cel·er·a·tion

1 increase in speed (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the act of moving faster or the process of something speeding up.

the act of accelerating or the state of being accelerated; a general increase in the speed of motion or action.

Example

The car's acceleration was so smooth that I didn't realize how fast we were going.

Example

The driver felt a sudden surge of acceleration as the vehicle merged onto the motorway, quickly reaching the speed of the surrounding traffic.
- speeding up
- quickening
- deceleration
- slowing
2 rate of change (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

the measurement of how quickly an object's speed or direction changes.

the rate of change of velocity with respect to time, encompassing changes in both magnitude and direction.

Example

In physics class, we calculated the acceleration of a ball rolling down a hill.

Example

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.

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3 faster progress (n.)
C1 Advanced Academic Formal

an increase in the speed at which something happens or develops.

the advancement or hastening of a process, trend, or course of study.

Example

The government promised an acceleration of the new housing project.

Example

Economists have noted a significant acceleration in the adoption of digital payment systems over the last fiscal quarter.

Teacher's tip

In educational contexts, this specifically refers to allowing gifted students to move through the curriculum faster than their peers.
- hastening
- expediting
- delay
- slowdown

Origin

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.