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.

Chief Executive Josh Charlesworth said the doughnut chain remains on track to accelerate growth later this year, pointing to continued retail expansion and strong consumer engagement.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

The Eels of Steel scheme, funded by Natural England, aims to accelerate the recovery of the type of fish in the Tees catchment.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

Unlike existing systems, this design uses strong electrical currents and magnetic fields to accelerate plasma made from lithium, producing greater thrust at higher power levels.

From Science Daily • May 6, 2026

Sales of Novo’s injectable weight-loss drug, Wegovy, continued to accelerate in the latest quarter.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

That wasn’t exactly a confidence builder for the man preparing to ride it into orbit, but it was the more powerful Atlas that would be required to accelerate the Mercury capsule to orbital velocity.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

Vocabulary lists containing accelerate

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Holes

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Commonly Misspelled Words, List 2

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!