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 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
The law is part of Sweden's efforts to tighten its approach to migration and comes as the European Union overhauls its migration system, including to expedite deportations.
—ABC News, 15 June 2026
The law is part of Sweden’s efforts to tighten its approach to migration and comes as the European Union overhauls its migration system, including to expedite deportations.
—Claudia Ciobanu, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
When traveling with a large group or family, in which some passengers have Global Entry and others don't, using Mobile Passport Control can be a helpful way to expedite the process for the non-Global Entry travelers.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026
Justice Jorge Labarga wrote a dissent arguing the court did have jurisdiction, and chiding the First DCA for not expediting a review by the Florida Supreme Court.
—Gray Rohrer, Sun Sentinel, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for expedite
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ABC News, 15 June 2026
The law is part of Sweden’s efforts to tighten its approach to migration and comes as the European Union overhauls its migration system, including to expedite deportations.
—Claudia Ciobanu, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
When traveling with a large group or family, in which some passengers have Global Entry and others don't, using Mobile Passport Control can be a helpful way to expedite the process for the non-Global Entry travelers.
—Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2026
Justice Jorge Labarga wrote a dissent arguing the court did have jurisdiction, and chiding the First DCA for not expediting a review by the Florida Supreme Court.
—Gray Rohrer, Sun Sentinel, 10 June 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 17 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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