expedite
verb
ex·pe·dite
ˈek-spə-ˌdīt 
expedited; expediting
1
: to accelerate the process or progress of : speed up
2
: to execute promptly
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 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 “to release (a person) especially from a confined position.” 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
President Trump in January signed the Energy Emergency Act, which aims to expedite rare earths processing capacity in the United States to combat China's near monopoly.
—Christopher Helman, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
According to the complaint, the ACLU pressed the SSA to expedite the release of public records associated with DOGE’s work; a process permitted when documents are deemed urgent to inform the public about government activities at the center of significant public debate or concern.
—Dell Cameron, Wired News, 21 Apr. 2025
Barlow, 69, had to find an organist to cover for her at Easter mass, expedite doctor appointments to get her partner’s torn bicep checked out and drive 19 hours east.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Court documents show that Ezra agreed to the order and signed on Feb. 7, which could expedite the buoy transfer.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expedite
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Christopher Helman, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
According to the complaint, the ACLU pressed the SSA to expedite the release of public records associated with DOGE’s work; a process permitted when documents are deemed urgent to inform the public about government activities at the center of significant public debate or concern.
—Dell Cameron, Wired News, 21 Apr. 2025
Barlow, 69, had to find an organist to cover for her at Easter mass, expedite doctor appointments to get her partner’s torn bicep checked out and drive 19 hours east.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Court documents show that Ezra agreed to the order and signed on Feb. 7, which could expedite the buoy transfer.
—Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expedite
Cite this Entry
“Expedite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expedite. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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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