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
Beyond having the pandemic to thank for next-to-nothing interest rates in 2021, COVID also expedited partnerships between AI drug development start ups and Big Pharma companies.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
New York attempted to expedite its rebuild by adding key defensive pieces like Jevon Holland, Paulson Adebo and Chauncey Golston in free agency, so why not try and bolster the offensive side of the ball, as well?
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
The court’s decision to expedite the appeal suggests the justices will issue a final decision quickly.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
Regular and expedited new passport applications will both be accepted at the Roseville event.
—Fernanda Galan, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expedite
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Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 12 Sep. 2025
New York attempted to expedite its rebuild by adding key defensive pieces like Jevon Holland, Paulson Adebo and Chauncey Golston in free agency, so why not try and bolster the offensive side of the ball, as well?
—Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
The court’s decision to expedite the appeal suggests the justices will issue a final decision quickly.
—Dan Mangan, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2025
Regular and expedited new passport applications will both be accepted at the Roseville event.
—Fernanda Galan, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 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 13 Sep. 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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