English Reference
verb

expedite

v.
US /ˈɛkspɪˌdaɪt/ UK /ˈɛkspədˌaɪt/ ex·pe·dite UK spelling expedited, expedites, expediting

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Formal

    to make a process or action happen more quickly.

    to accelerate the progress of a process or action; to facilitate rapid completion.

    Simple

    You can pay an extra fee to expedite your passport application.

    In context

    The department head promised to expedite the review process to ensure the project could begin before the end of the fiscal year.

    Usage

    This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object, usually a process, task, or request.

  2. 02 C1 Advanced FormalAcademic

    to do a task quickly and well.

    to execute or dispatch a task with speed and efficiency.

    Simple

    The new software helped the team expedite their daily reports.

    In context

    The logistics manager was hired specifically to expedite the distribution of goods across the northern territories.

    Teacher's tip

    While 'speed up' is common in speech, 'expedite' is the preferred term in professional and legal correspondence.

That will help SpaceX expedite reuse of the vehicle.

Ars Technica· 18 Aug 2026

But once the adrenaline rush of beating 11 serious rivals in an expedited bid process run by the Raine Group had worn off, that was really when the problems started.

The Guardian· 18 Aug 2026

From Latin expedītus (“unimpeded, unfettered”), perfect passive participle of expediō (“bring forward, set right”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin expedītus
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated