accelerate

[ak-sel-uh-reyt] / ækˈsɛl əˌreɪt /

VERB

increase speed, timing

Synonyms

STRONGEST

advance expedite further hasten open up quicken spur step up stimulate

STRONG

drive dust forward gun hurry impel precipitate railroad rev roll tool

WEAK

fire up hammer on lay a patch lay rubber make tracks nail it peel rubber put on afterburners put pedal to metal rev up speed up step on the gas

Antonyms

STRONGEST

block cease check delay discourage halt hinder slow stop

STRONG

dissuade repress wait

WEAK

decelerate defer impede postpone retard slow down

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"This study helps clarify how the physiological stressors associated with biological aging may accelerate biological processes linked to aging and disease," said Abdelnaby Khalyfa, M.Sc.,

From Science Daily • May 16, 2026

Profit growth is expected to accelerate to about 10% next fiscal year from 2% in the current one.

From Barron's • May 15, 2026

Once a scrappy underdog in a race that OpenAI appeared to have already won, the gap between the two companies has narrowed significantly this year, with new data suggesting Anthropic’s growth continues to accelerate rapidly.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

"In order to accelerate the research and development of quantum technologies, it is crucial to deepen our understanding of basic concepts to come up with innovative ideas," says Takeuchi.

From Science Daily • May 13, 2026

Had he been pondering the question of how to accelerate particles for a long time, or did the concept that was to guide his life’s work occur to him on the spot?

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Vocabulary lists containing accelerate

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

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Holes

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Commonly Misspelled Words, List 2

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