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.

That’s set to accelerate in the coming years as enterprises begin to deploy more agents.

From Barron's • Jun. 28, 2026

Some US states are trying to accelerate permits for geothermal plants and in April senators from both parties introduced the Next-Generation Geothermal, external Research and Development Act.

From BBC • Jun. 25, 2026

For stocks, momentum to the downside has tended to accelerate following previous breaks below the 50-day, Dow Jones Market Data showed.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 25, 2026

The same process can either slow or accelerate an asteroid's spin.

From Science Daily • Jun. 25, 2026

At the end of the first block, the traffic light turns green and all the cars accelerate at once.

From "Muffled" by Jennifer Gennari

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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