accelerate
To accelerate means to make something go faster or happen more quickly.
Explanation at your level:
To accelerate means to go faster. If you are in a car, you accelerate to increase your speed. It is a very useful word when you want to talk about moving quickly.
When you accelerate something, you make it happen sooner. For example, if you study hard, you might accelerate your learning. It is a common word in news and science.
In intermediate English, accelerate is often used to describe progress. You can accelerate a process, a project, or a trend. It sounds more professional than just saying 'speed up'.
At this level, you will notice accelerate used in business and academic contexts. It implies a deliberate effort to increase the rate of change. It is a strong, active verb for formal writing.
Advanced users employ accelerate to discuss complex systems, such as accelerating climate change or accelerating economic recovery. It carries a sense of urgency and systemic impact.
Mastery of accelerate involves understanding its nuanced role in technical and literary contexts. It can describe the rapid evolution of ideas or the compounding nature of velocity in physics, reflecting a high level of precision.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Accelerate means to increase speed.
- It is a versatile verb for objects and processes.
- The noun form is acceleration.
- It is common in professional and technical contexts.
When you accelerate, you are pushing the pedal down on life! Whether you are talking about a car speeding up on the highway or a project that is moving ahead of schedule, this word captures the essence of increasing speed.
In physics, acceleration is a very specific measurement of how quickly an object changes its velocity. However, in our everyday conversations, we use it much more broadly. If a company wants to accelerate growth, they are looking for ways to expand faster than they currently are. It is all about momentum and moving forward with greater intensity.
The word accelerate has a fascinating journey through history. It comes from the Latin word accelerare, which itself is built from ad- (meaning 'to') and celer (meaning 'swift').
It entered the English language in the 16th century. Back then, it was used to describe anything that was being hastened or hurried along. Interestingly, the root celer is also the ancestor of the word celerity, which is a fancy, formal way of saying 'swiftness' or 'speed.' It is a great example of how Latin roots continue to shape our modern scientific and casual vocabulary today.
You will see accelerate used in both formal and casual settings. In business, you might hear about accelerating digital transformation or accelerating a timeline. These are standard professional phrases.
In casual conversation, we might say, 'We need to accelerate our plans to get there on time.' It is a versatile verb that works well whenever you want to emphasize that something is not moving fast enough. Just remember, it is a transitive verb, meaning it usually takes an object—you accelerate something.
While 'accelerate' itself isn't always in idioms, it is related to many fast-paced expressions:
- Put the pedal to the metal: To accelerate as much as possible.
- Pick up the pace: To increase speed.
- Fast track: To accelerate a project's completion.
- Shift into high gear: To accelerate efforts significantly.
- Hit the ground running: To start a task and immediately accelerate productivity.
Accelerate is a regular verb. Its past tense is accelerated, and its present participle is accelerating. The stress falls on the second syllable: ak-SEL-uh-rayt.
In British and American English, the pronunciation is quite similar, though the 'r' sound in the final syllable is often more pronounced in American English. It rhymes with words like deliberate (as a verb) and reiterate. Using it correctly usually involves a direct object, such as 'The driver accelerated the car.'
Fun Fact
The root 'celer' is the same root found in 'celerity'.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'ak' sound, soft 'sel', 'uh' sound, 'rayt'.
Similar to UK, slightly more emphasis on the final 't'.
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'c' as 's'
- Stress on the wrong syllable
- Dropping the 'r' sounds
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to speak
Easy to listen
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Transitive Verbs
He accelerated the car.
Past Participle Usage
The accelerated plan.
Adverb Placement
Rapidly accelerated.
Examples by Level
The car began to accelerate.
car / began / speed up
Verb usage
He accelerated his bike.
he / speeded up / bike
Transitive verb
The train will accelerate now.
train / will / go faster
Future tense
Don't accelerate too fast.
do not / speed up / quickly
Imperative
We accelerate on the highway.
we / speed up / road
Present tense
The plane accelerated quickly.
plane / speeded up / fast
Past tense
Why did you accelerate?
why / did / you / speed up
Question form
It helps to accelerate.
it / helps / to speed up
Infinitive
The project will accelerate next week.
We need to accelerate our work.
The economy is starting to accelerate.
Can you accelerate the delivery?
The growth began to accelerate.
Technology helps accelerate change.
He accelerated to pass the truck.
The process was accelerated by new software.
The company hopes to accelerate its expansion.
We must accelerate the pace of reform.
The warm weather accelerated the melting of the ice.
They are looking for ways to accelerate production.
The new policy will accelerate the transition.
His success accelerated his career growth.
The engine accelerated smoothly.
The government accelerated the vaccination program.
The startup aims to accelerate innovation in the tech sector.
Global warming is accelerating the rise in sea levels.
The committee decided to accelerate the review process.
We need to accelerate the implementation of these safety measures.
The sudden demand accelerated the supply chain issues.
The research team accelerated their data analysis.
The economic crisis accelerated the need for change.
He accelerated his pace to catch the bus.
The digital revolution has accelerated the obsolescence of traditional media.
The catalyst was designed to accelerate the chemical reaction.
The CEO sought to accelerate the company's shift toward sustainability.
The rapid adoption of AI has accelerated the evolution of the job market.
The central bank acted to accelerate economic recovery.
The project was accelerated to meet the strict deadline.
The pandemic accelerated the move to remote work.
The intense pressure accelerated his decision-making process.
The unprecedented rate of technological change has accelerated the fragmentation of global markets.
The architect of the plan sought to accelerate the structural transformation of the institution.
The sudden influx of capital accelerated the firm's trajectory toward market dominance.
The geopolitical tensions have accelerated the realignment of international alliances.
The scientific breakthrough accelerated the development of the new vaccine.
The unforeseen event accelerated the collapse of the negotiations.
The rapid pace of urbanization has accelerated the demand for infrastructure.
The systemic failure accelerated the erosion of public trust.
Synonyms
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"Full speed ahead"
Move as fast as possible
It is full speed ahead for the project.
neutral"Step on it"
Drive faster
Step on it, or we will miss the train!
casual"Pick up the pace"
Increase speed
We need to pick up the pace to finish on time.
neutral"In the fast lane"
Living a very busy/fast life
He has been living in the fast lane lately.
casual"Hit the gas"
Accelerate a vehicle
Hit the gas when the light turns green.
casual"Race against time"
Working quickly to finish
It is a race against time now.
neutralEasily Confused
Similar sound
Exhilarate means to thrill, accelerate means to speed up
The ride exhilarated me; the car accelerated quickly.
Opposite meaning
Decelerate is to slow down
He accelerated, then decelerated.
Similar meaning
Hasten is more formal/literary
He hastened his steps.
Similar meaning
Expedite is for processes
Please expedite this.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + accelerate + object
The driver accelerated the car.
Subject + accelerate + adverb
The car accelerated rapidly.
It + helps + to accelerate + noun
It helps to accelerate growth.
The + noun + was + accelerated
The process was accelerated.
To + accelerate + noun
To accelerate progress, we need help.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Accelerate is usually for objects, vehicles, or processes.
They sound similar but have different meanings.
Accelerate is a verb.
Accelerate already includes the concept of speed.
It is a transitive verb; it needs an object.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a car engine growing wings.
Business Context
Use it to show you are proactive.
Car Culture
It's a key word in driving.
Transitive Rule
Always have an object.
The 'c' sound
It sounds like 'ks'.
Don't use as noun
Use acceleration instead.
Latin roots
Celer means swift.
Flashcards
Pair with 'decelerate'.
Variety
Use it to replace 'speed up'.
Confidence
Use it to sound more precise.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
AC-CEL-ER-ATE: A Car CELerates ERy ATE (every time it eats gas).
Visual Association
A car pedal being pushed down.
Word Web
Challenge
Use the word 'accelerate' three times today.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: To hasten
Cultural Context
None.
Commonly used in automotive and business contexts.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Driving
- Accelerate slowly
- Accelerate on the highway
- Do not accelerate here
Business
- Accelerate growth
- Accelerate the timeline
- Accelerate innovation
Science
- Accelerate particles
- Rate of acceleration
- Constant acceleration
General Progress
- Accelerate recovery
- Accelerate change
- Accelerate learning
Conversation Starters
"What is one thing you would like to accelerate in your life?"
"Do you think technology is accelerating too fast?"
"How does a car accelerate?"
"Why do businesses want to accelerate growth?"
"Can you name a process that should be accelerated?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you had to accelerate your plans.
How does the concept of speed change your life?
Describe a situation where accelerating was necessary.
If you could accelerate one global change, what would it be?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is a verb.
Subject + accelerate + object.
Accelerated.
Not usually, unless metaphorically.
It is neutral and professional.
Yes, but quicken is more poetic.
Very common.
Acceleration.
Test Yourself
The car started to ___.
Accelerate means to speed up.
Which means to speed up?
Accelerate is a synonym for speed up.
Accelerate is a noun.
It is a verb.
Word
Meaning
They are synonyms.
We need to accelerate.
The new policy will ___ economic growth.
Accelerate fits the context of growth.
What is the noun form?
Acceleration is the noun.
You can accelerate a person.
Usually used for things or processes.
Word
Meaning
Both mean to speed up.
The process was accelerated.
Score: /10
Summary
Accelerate is the go-to verb when you need to describe making something move faster or happen sooner.
- Accelerate means to increase speed.
- It is a versatile verb for objects and processes.
- The noun form is acceleration.
- It is common in professional and technical contexts.
Memory Palace
Imagine a car engine growing wings.
Business Context
Use it to show you are proactive.
Car Culture
It's a key word in driving.
Transitive Rule
Always have an object.
Example
I had to accelerate the vehicle quickly to merge safely onto the highway.
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