Accelerate (verb)

Meaning & Definition of Accelerate

to move faster, to gain speed
to progress from grade to grade more rapidly than usual, to follow a speeded-up educational program
to bring about at an earlier time

Accelerate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number

"toy purchases accelerate dramatically during the Christmas season"

similar: accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon, climb, enlarge, escalate, expand, gain, increase, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax

related: jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge, heighten, intensify, redouble, blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up), crescendo, crest, peak

opposite: contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane
to cause to move or proceed fast or faster

"we accelerated preparations for the hurricane upon hearing weather reports that it had gained speed"

similar: bundle, fast-track, hasten, hurry, quicken, rush, speed (up), whisk

related: drive, goad, prod, propel, push, race, spur, stir, urge, aid, dispatch, ease, encourage, expedite, facilitate

opposite: brake, decelerate, retard, slow (down)

near: delay, encumber, fetter, hamper, hinder, hobble, hold back, hold up, impede, interfere (with), manacle, rein (in), restrain, shackle, tie up, trammel, arrest, check, stall, stay, still, stop
to make greater in size, amount, or number

"the company accelerated its advertising purchases even as the economy appeared to be in recession"

similar: add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, build up, compound, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, hype, increase, multiply, pump up, raise, stoke, supersize, swell, up

related: boom, jump, skyrocket, spike, bump (up), ratchet (up), blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, draw out, elongate, flesh (out), lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch, develop, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify, complement, supplement, beef (up), reinforce, strengthen, maximize, accumulate, amass, collect, follow up, parlay

opposite: abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, minify, reduce, subtract (from)

near: abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten, compress, condense, constrict, contract, cut back, retrench

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Accelerate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Accelerate:

accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon, climb, enlarge, escalate, expand, gain, increase, mount, multiply, mushroom, proliferate, rise, roll up, snowball, spread, swell, wax, bundle, fast-track, hasten, hurry, quicken, rush, speed (up), whisk, add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, compound, extend, hype, pump up, raise

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Accelerate

Words with the opposite meaning of Accelerate:

contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane, brake, decelerate, retard, slow (down), abate, de-escalate, downsize, lower, minify, reduce, subtract (from)

Related Words for Accelerate

jump, rocket, skyrocket, surge, heighten, intensify, redouble, blow up, bulk, distend, inflate, puff (up), crescendo, crest, peak, drive, goad, prod, propel, push, race, spur, stir, urge, aid, dispatch, ease, encourage, expedite, facilitate

Near Antonyms of Accelerate

delay, encumber, fetter, hamper, hinder, hobble, hold back, hold up, impede, interfere (with), manacle, rein (in), restrain, shackle, tie up, trammel, arrest, check, stall, stay, still, stop, abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten, compress, condense, constrict, cut back

Word Forms of Accelerate

Inflections: accelerated, accelerating

Origin & Etymology of Accelerate

borrowed from Latin accelerātus, past participle of accelerāre "to add speed to, hasten the occurrence of, go quickly," from ad- ad- + celerāre "to hasten," verbal derivative of celer "swift, speedy," perhaps going back to *keli-li-/ri-, derivative from the Indo-European verbal base *kelh1- "set in motion," whence also Greek (o)kéllō, (o)kéllein "to bring (a ship, person) to shore," Lithuanian keliù, kélti "to settle (farm animals) on a different pasture," Tocharian A källāskeṃ "(they) bring," śala "(s/he) brought," Tocharian B kalṣtar "(s/he) goads, drives (animals)"

First known use: circa 1522t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Accelerate

CEFR level: C1 English Vocabulary — Page 1
Topics: Common Actions / Verbs

Frequently Asked Questions about Accelerate

What does "Accelerate" mean?

"Accelerate" means to move faster, to gain speed. As a verb, it is defined as: to move faster, to gain speed. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Accelerate"?

Other words for "Accelerate" include accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon, climb and enlarge. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Accelerate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Accelerate"?

There are 97 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Accelerate". Common alternatives include accumulate, appreciate, balloon, boom, build up, burgeon, climb, enlarge, escalate and expand.

What is the opposite of "Accelerate"?

Antonyms of "Accelerate" include contract, decrease, diminish, dwindle, lessen, recede, wane and brake. Near antonyms include delay, encumber, fetter and hamper.

How do you use "Accelerate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Accelerate" in a sentence: "toy purchases accelerate dramatically during the Christmas season"; "we accelerated preparations for the hurricane upon hearing weather reports that it had gained speed"; "the company accelerated its advertising purchases even as the economy appeared to be in recession".

Is "Accelerate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Accelerate" is a verb.

Is "Accelerate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Accelerate" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Accelerate"?

"Accelerate" is pronounced /ik-ˈse-lə-ˌrāt/ and divided into syllables as ac·cel·er·ate.