# hasten

/ˈheɪsən/ (US) · /hˈeɪstən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hasten
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to make something happen faster

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to make something happen sooner or more quickly.

For teachers: to accelerate the progress or occurrence of something. Transitive — requires an object.

- The heavy rain will hasten the end of the outdoor festival.
- Economists fear that the sudden rise in interest rates will hasten the onset of a recession by reducing consumer spending.

### 2. to move or act quickly

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

to go somewhere or do something in a hurry.

For teachers: to move or act with haste. Intransitive — often followed by an infinitive or a prepositional phrase.

- She saw the time and hastened to the meeting room.
- Upon hearing the news of the breakthrough, the researchers hastened to publish their findings before their competitors could do so.

### 3. to clarify quickly

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

you use this when you want to add a comment quickly to avoid a misunderstanding.

For teachers: used in the fixed phrase 'hasten to add' to immediately clarify a previous statement and prevent misinterpretation.

- He said the project was difficult, but hastened to add that it was also very rewarding.
- The CEO noted that the company was restructuring, though she hastened to add that no immediate job losses were expected.

Usage: Almost always used in the construction 'hasten to add' or 'hasten to point out'.

## Examples

- He had to hasten his pace to catch the bus.
- The doctor advised the patient to hasten the recovery process by following the prescribed diet strictly.
- As the deadline approached, the team worked tirelessly to hasten the completion of the final report, knowing that any delay would jeopardize the entire project.

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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.