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
With the integration of Atelier Archiand, ABC and Terotecna, the company has also embraced digital technology to expedite its projects.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
What To Know In his interview with the Financial Times, Emanuel addressed the fears that AI expediting tasks and freeing up time will result in employees leading less fulfilled lives.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
The dismal defense expedited Toronto’s bullpen melt-down, as the Jays’ first four relievers allowed runs.
—Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
There is a bag policy in effect for the shows, and organizers are encouraging fans to travel light to expedite entry into the venue.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for expedite
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Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025
What To Know In his interview with the Financial Times, Emanuel addressed the fears that AI expediting tasks and freeing up time will result in employees leading less fulfilled lives.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
The dismal defense expedited Toronto’s bullpen melt-down, as the Jays’ first four relievers allowed runs.
—Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
There is a bag policy in effect for the shows, and organizers are encouraging fans to travel light to expedite entry into the venue.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 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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