acceleration

noun

ac·cel·er·a·tion ik-ˌse-lə-ˈrā-shən

(ˌ)ak-

: the act or process of moving faster or happening more quickly : the act or process of accelerating

rapid acceleration

the acceleration of economic growth

: ability to accelerate

a car with good acceleration

physics : the rate of change of velocity with respect to time

broadly : change of velocity

Example Sentences

The car delivers quick acceleration. There has been some acceleration in economic growth. There has been an acceleration in economic growth.

Recent Examples on the Web Cuts of that speed would amount to a dramatic acceleration by the U.S., Europe and other wealthy nations.

Matthew Dalton, WSJ, 17 Nov. 2022 No matter the application, every 911 has astonishing acceleration, especially when the gleefully good launch control is utilized.

Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 17 Nov. 2022 It's specced for up to 30,000 counts per inch, 750 inches per second max velocity, and a max acceleration of 70 g.

Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 11 Nov. 2022 Take a full-speed acceleration run on either vehicle, for instance.

Outside Online, 1 Nov. 2022 Kang’s tenure saw a rapid acceleration of CJ ENM’s content production capacity, the blow that COVID dealt to the film production and distribution division CJ Entertainment, and overseas expansions.

Patrick Frater, Variety, 23 Oct. 2022 Barron’s positive rating of Paramount Global is based on two short-term achievements: five No. 1 releases and a recent acceleration of streaming revenues.

Steve Denning, Forbes, 10 July 2022 By facilitating exactly what blockchain was supposed to do—cutting out intermediaries and inducing greater competition—UPI could force a global acceleration of innovation in payment technology.

Alex Salkever, Fortune, 30 June 2022 Plus announced Thursday that the group would increase production by 648,000 barrels per day in July and August, a modest acceleration of plans that were already in motion to reverse lower production related to the pandemic.

John Hudson, BostonGlobe.com, 3 June 2022 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French acceleratiun, borrowed from Latin accelerātiōn-, accelerātiō, from accelerāre "to accelerate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of acceleration was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century