expedite
verb
ex·pe·dite
ˈek-spə-ˌdīt 
expedited; expediting
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
Iran's representative to the United Nations in Geneva said today that his government will facilitate and expedite the passage of humanitarian shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial waterway through which 20% of the world's oil supply travels, according to the ISNA news agency.
—Sean Nevin, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
To expedite the process, the City Council agreed to have each of its five members propose four of the applicants for interviews.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
In at least one case, the developer of an affordable housing project is seeking speedy approval of the complex by using provisions of California Senate Bill 35, which forces cities to approve and expedite certain projects that include affordable units.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
Picking well would help expedite the process to compete in what has suddenly become one of the best divisions in football.
—Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expedite
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Sean Nevin, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
To expedite the process, the City Council agreed to have each of its five members propose four of the applicants for interviews.
—Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
In at least one case, the developer of an affordable housing project is seeking speedy approval of the complex by using provisions of California Senate Bill 35, which forces cities to approve and expedite certain projects that include affordable units.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
Picking well would help expedite the process to compete in what has suddenly become one of the best divisions in football.
—Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expedite
Cite this Entry
“Expedite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/expedite. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
expedite
verb
ex·pe·dite
ˈek-spə-ˌdīt
expedited; expediting
: to speed up the process or progress of
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
