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 to 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 difficulty.” 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
Project plans for the new eight-story apartment building suggest the developers aim to use provisions of Senate Bill 330 that are designed to expedite the city’s review process.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
The same rules could expedite the entry of Anthropic and OpenAI, as well.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
Indeed, part of Cuba’s transition to solar energy has already been expedited by assistance from foreign nations, including China and Brazil.
—Luisa Blanco, Sun Sentinel, 2 June 2026
Maker Revolution Medicines funded the study and the Food and Drug Administration plans to expedite review of the drug.
—CNN Money, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for expedite
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George Avalos, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
The same rules could expedite the entry of Anthropic and OpenAI, as well.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 5 June 2026
Indeed, part of Cuba’s transition to solar energy has already been expedited by assistance from foreign nations, including China and Brazil.
—Luisa Blanco, Sun Sentinel, 2 June 2026
Maker Revolution Medicines funded the study and the Food and Drug Administration plans to expedite review of the drug.
—CNN Money, 31 May 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 10 Jun. 2026.
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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