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
That said, expedited screening lanes are not always faster than regular screening, both Henderson and Dong warned.
—Shannon Bond, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
While the 30-year option may not be advantageous for most homeowners now, the 15-year alternative could be, assuming the borrower wants to expedite their payoff timeline (and, potentially, can afford larger monthly payments due to that reduction).
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
His administration also bypassed Congress to expedite the sale of billions of dollars’ worth of weapons to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, as Gulf allies take the brunt of Iran’s retaliation for US and Israeli military action.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Student loan refinancing is often billed as a way to expedite and simplify student loan repayment.
—Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 16 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for expedite
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Shannon Bond, NPR, 21 Mar. 2026
While the 30-year option may not be advantageous for most homeowners now, the 15-year alternative could be, assuming the borrower wants to expedite their payoff timeline (and, potentially, can afford larger monthly payments due to that reduction).
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
His administration also bypassed Congress to expedite the sale of billions of dollars’ worth of weapons to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, as Gulf allies take the brunt of Iran’s retaliation for US and Israeli military action.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Student loan refinancing is often billed as a way to expedite and simplify student loan repayment.
—Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 16 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 28 Mar. 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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