expedite

verb ex·pe·dite \ ˈek-spə-ˌdīt \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of expedite

expedited; expediting

transitive verb

1 : to accelerate the process or progress of : speed up

2 : to execute promptly

3 : issue, dispatch

See expedite defined for English-language learners

See expedite defined for kids

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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

Recent Examples of expedite from the Web

Despite Trump's complaints, Amazon started paying sales taxes in 2017 in most states after setting up warehouses across the country to expedite its delivery times.

— jeff stein, chicagotribune.com, "If Trump really wants to go after Amazon, he has options," 5 Apr. 2018
Initially, the focus will be on managing pain, controlling swelling, gradually initiating range of motion exercises and performing low intensity stationary bike to expedite healing (Arch Phys Med Rehab 2010).

— colin hoobler, OregonLive.com, "Colin Hoobler: A closer look at Moe Harkless' knee injury and timeline for recovery," 5 Apr. 2018
Facebook is expediting a plan to close its Instagram Platform API, which was originally planned to happen gradually over the next few years.

— kurt wagner, Recode, "Facebook will stop sharing as much of your personal data with people outside of Facebook," 4 Apr. 2018
Now, text messages from the corrupt Trump-hating FBI lovebirds, Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, show that the FBI appears to have improperly coordinated with the DOJ to expedite the FISA warrant to spy on Trump campaign associate Carter Page.

— Fox News, "Hannity: President Trump takes bold action on the border," 3 Apr. 2018
One of the advantages of Precheck, TSA’s expedited screening program, is that participants can leave electronics in their carry-on bags.

— bart jansen, USA TODAY, "TSA might ask travelers to remove food from carry-on bags, to reduce X-ray clutter," 27 Mar. 2018
This project along with the transformation of the former Amelia campus into the new West Clermont Middle School earned the West Clermont expedited eligibility for funding through the Ohio School Facilities Commission.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "After 34 years, West Clermont Superintendent Keith Kline will call it a career," 22 Mar. 2018
That decision would expedite his process and could elevate the intensity of his recruitment, especially for Kentucky.

— fletcher page, The Courier-Journal, "Top 2019 point guard Ashton Hagans 'would love' for Kentucky basketball to recruit him," 20 Mar. 2018
The Department of Homeland Security should also expedite security clearances for state election officials.

— steven t. dennis, Bloomberg.com, "Time’s Running Short to Stop 2018 Election Hacking, Senators Say," 20 Mar. 2018

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

Did You Know?

If you're really intent on expediting something, you jump in with both feet - or apply a single foot where it will be most effective! And when you do, you're drawing on the etymology of expedite itself. The word comes from the Latin verb expedire ("to set free" or "to make useful"), a word that in turn traces back to the root ped- or pes, meaning "foot." Expedite has been used in English since at least the 15th century.