hasten

verb

has·​ten ˈhā-sᵊn 

hastened; hastening ˈhā-sᵊn-iŋ 

ˈhās-niŋ

intransitive verb

: to move or act quickly

She hastened up the stairs.

transitive verb

1

: to encourage to move or act quickly : to urge on

… hastened her to the door.

—A. J. Cronin

2

: to cause to happen more quickly : accelerate

His death was hastened by alcoholism.

hasten the coming of a new order

—D. W. Brogan

hastener

ˈhā-sᵊn-ər 

ˈhās-nər

noun

Synonyms of hasten

• accelerate
• rush
• push

Examples of hasten in a Sentence

His death was hastened by alcohol abuse.

hasten the activation of yeast with heat

Recent Examples on the Web

In a Friday interview, Howey’s Mayor Graham Wells hastened to assure his residents there is no danger the city would lose its Police Department or its festivals. — Martin E. Comas, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Nov. 2026

Swift’s demise was hastened by an increase in solar activity over the past couple of years as the sun reached the peak of its 11-year cycle in 2024. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026

Starting some two years ago, high-energy particles from heavier-than-usual solar activity puffed up this part of Earth’s atmosphere, hastening Swift’s demise. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 4 Nov. 2026

Only his vote can hasten the abolition of slavery who asserts his own freedom by his vote. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see haste entry 1

First Known Use

1568, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing hasten

• hasten to add/say/explain (etc.)

Rhymes for hasten

• basin
• caisson
• chasten
• jason
• capsaicin
• disseisin
• freemason
• stonemason
• subbasin
• unfasten
• washbasin

Kids Definition

hasten

verb

has·​ten ˈhā-sᵊn 

hastened; hastening ˈhās-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

1

: to urge on

2

: to speed up : accelerate

hastened my steps

3

: to move or act quickly : hurry

hastener

ˈhās-nər 

-ᵊn-ər

noun