accelerator

noun

ac·cel·er·a·tor ik-ˈse-lə-ˌrā-tər

ak-

plural accelerators

: one that accelerates: such as

: a muscle or nerve that speeds the performance of an action

: a device (such as a gas pedal) for increasing the speed of a motor vehicle engine

: a substance that speeds a chemical reaction

: an apparatus for imparting high velocities to charged particles (such as electrons)

: an item of computer hardware that increases the speed at which a program or function operates

a graphics accelerator

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web This is why researchers at Bain and McKinsey determined that digital was a massive accelerator for challenger companies. —

Anna Oakes, Quartz, 27 Mar. 2023 One of these new terms is an e-commerce accelerator. —

Somdutta Singh, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2023 Backing off the accelerator—the natural first instinct—brings the traction control back into play and makes the car bog down. —

Mike Duff, Car and Driver, 17 Oct. 2022 There’s also a lot of activity at Techstars Alabama EnergyTech Accelerator in Birmingham, which last month announced its third class to go through the accelerator. —

William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, 14 Oct. 2022 Hours before slamming his foot down on the accelerator and heading west, Danny hijacked ten kilos of heroin from the Italians and killed a crooked FBI agent who was about to blow him away. —

Maureen Corrigan, Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2023 The driver assistance system does get marks for offering vehicle-follow in stop-and-go traffic without having to press the accelerator or resume button. —

Dan Seifert, The Verge, 26 Apr. 2023 Max Range is turned off by pressing the accelerator to the floor, selecting the M Sport Boost function with the left paddle shifter, or turning the window defroster to its highest setting. —

Caleb Miller, Car and Driver, 18 Apr. 2023 If the car brakes for no reason, your way to correct that is to hit the accelerator. —

Brad Templeton, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'accelerator.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.