expedite
verb
ex·pe·dite
ˈek-spə-ˌdīt 
expedited; expediting
Did you know?
Need someone to do something in a hurry? You can tell that person to step on it, or you can tell them to expedite it. Figurative feet are involved in both cases, though less obviously in the second choice. Expedite comes from the Latin verb expedire, meaning “to free from entanglement or difficulty.” The feet come in at that word’s root: it traces back to Latin ped- or pes, meaning “foot.” Expedient and expedition also stepped into English by way of expedire.
Examples of expedite in a Sentence
During the fire season they wear a semblance of uniform intended to expedite the rush when the siren howls …
—
Tom Harpole, Air & Space, August/September 1993
Overnight he found himself coordinating the train and ship schedules and expediting the loading and unloading of 15,000 officers and men …
—Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988
This final phase was never actually completed because of the need to expedite an airmobile force to Vietnam.
—Shelby L. Stanton, Anatomy of a Division, 1987
After the war its leaders were stigmatized as collaborators and accused of helping to expedite the murderous work of the Nazis.
—Bernard Wasserstein, New York Times Book Review, 24 May 1987
Tom Harpole, Air & Space, August/September 1993
Overnight he found himself coordinating the train and ship schedules and expediting the loading and unloading of 15,000 officers and men …
—Neil Sheehan, A Bright Shining Lie, 1988
This final phase was never actually completed because of the need to expedite an airmobile force to Vietnam.
—Shelby L. Stanton, Anatomy of a Division, 1987
After the war its leaders were stigmatized as collaborators and accused of helping to expedite the murderous work of the Nazis.
—Bernard Wasserstein, New York Times Book Review, 24 May 1987
Recent Examples on the Web
Co-winner the City of New Rochelle introduced a comprehensive zoning, permitting and public-private development structure that has expedited mixed-income housing development across the city.
—Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Assumes the Legislature will make various changes to statute aimed at expediting project delivery, reducing costs, facilitating financing, and increasing the agency’s flexibility.
—Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 25 May 2026
This technique expedites growth, produces larger fruit, and leads to earlier harvests by directing the plant's energy to the main vine and developing cucumbers rather than unnecessary foliage.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 23 May 2026
Indeed, part of Cuba’s transition to solar energy has already been expedited by assistance from foreign nations, including China and Brazil.
—Isabella Elias, The Conversation, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for expedite
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Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Assumes the Legislature will make various changes to statute aimed at expediting project delivery, reducing costs, facilitating financing, and increasing the agency’s flexibility.
—Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 25 May 2026
This technique expedites growth, produces larger fruit, and leads to earlier harvests by directing the plant's energy to the main vine and developing cucumbers rather than unnecessary foliage.
—Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 23 May 2026
Indeed, part of Cuba’s transition to solar energy has already been expedited by assistance from foreign nations, including China and Brazil.
—Isabella Elias, The Conversation, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for expedite
Cite this Entry
“Expedite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expedite. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
expedite
verb
ex·pe·dite
ˈek-spə-ˌdīt
expedited; expediting
: to speed up the process or progress of
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