accelerating

adjective

ac·​cel·​er·​at·​ing ik-ˈse-lə-ˌrā-tiŋ How to pronounce accelerating (audio)
ak-
: increasing in speed or rate of occurrence
an accelerating process of change
… the already appalling damage humans have done to the primates by our accelerating destruction of their world.Paul Schullery
acceleratingly adverb

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web In 2020, the economic machine, call it nominal GDP, was inflected positive and accelerating. Bob Haber, Forbes, 26 May 2022 The melting of the glaciers in the Himalayas in particular is dramatic and accelerating, recent research has found, with the pace of change much faster in the 21st century than the 20th. Niha Masih, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2021 The accelerating loss could be a sign that the catastrophe has already been set in motion. Katie Langin, Science | AAAS, 21 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'accelerating.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1661, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of accelerating was in 1661

Dictionary Entries Near accelerating

Cite this Entry

“Accelerating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accelerating. Accessed 29 Mar. 2023.

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