accelerate

verb

ik-ˈse-lə-ˌrāt How to pronounce accelerate (audio)
Definition of acceleratenext
1
as in to increase
to become greater in size, extent, volume, amount, or number toy purchases accelerate dramatically during the Christmas season

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to rush
to cause to move or proceed fast or faster we accelerated preparations for the hurricane upon hearing weather reports that it had gained speed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to expand
to make greater in size, amount, or number the company accelerated its advertising purchases even as the economy appeared to be in recession

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of accelerate Cases began last fall before accelerating wildly just after the Christmas season. — Erika Edwards, NBC news, 24 July 2026 The Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest and a key regulator of global climate, so anything that degrades it could accelerate global warming, researchers say. — Gabriela Sa Pessoa, Fortune, 24 July 2026 The firm expects the capital raised to accelerate CXMT’s capacity expansion and strengthen its position in the global memory market. — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 24 July 2026 The press conference aimed to urge law enforcement to accelerate their efforts, as the public's concerns linger about the possibility of foul play and the role of race in Wells' death. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for accelerate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for accelerate
  1. increase
  2. rush
  3. expand
  4. rise
  5. push
  6. augment
  7. swell
  8. hasten
Verb
  • Enrollment in private schools in Miami-Dade County — religious and non-religious — has increased from about 70,000 to 92,000 the past two decades, according to reporting by the Miami Herald.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
  • Demolishing folding tables has become so popular — and worrisome — at Bills games that retail prices of tables in Western New York have been known to increase during football season.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2026
Definition of increase
Verb
  • Since 2022, the Falcons haven’t finished worse than 10th in the NFL in rushing — and their new offense, led by coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, suggests that won’t soon change.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
  • Spain’s technical staff and substitutes rushed off the bench to protest.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of rush
Verb
  • Abarca also wants to expand affordable housing options in Jackson County, invest in law enforcement and support local businesses.
    — Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 25 July 2026
  • Protesters blame Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and demand his resignation, but the demonstrations have since expanded into a wider anger over government accountability, spreading to other cities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
Definition of expand
Verb
  • That could be a bad sign for Everton Blair, the former Gwinnett County School Board chairman who needs a strong turnout from his home county in order to rise to the top of the five-person contest.
    — Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 24 July 2026
  • The number of victims is expected to keep rising as people desperately dig through the rubble, with little help from authorities.
    — Syra Ortiz-Blanes, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
Definition of rise
Verb
  • Paredes didn’t listen, electing instead to push Eric Garcia in the throat.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Argentina pushed for an equalizer late but couldn’t find the net.
    — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
Definition of push
Verb
  • The two panels will be installed on Orion's exterior, and will augment the spacecraft's existing communications systems.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 21 July 2026
  • Technology that augments humans spreads prosperity, but technology built to imitate and substitute for them concentrates it.
    — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of augment
Verb
  • It was forecast to gradually strengthen and the hurricane center said that ocean swells generated by Fausto were spreading along the Baja California coast and likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip tides.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
  • In the following days, Beretti’s right knee swelled severely, according to her health department complaint.
    — Ella Moore July 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
Definition of swell
Verb
  • At heart Koosha appeared to be engaged in hastening the end-of-cinema moment Damon was predicting — and with the very source material supposedly staving it off.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 20 July 2026
  • Two appeals courts agreed to hasten their review of lower court decisions.
    — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 18 July 2026
Definition of hasten

Browse Nearby Words

acceding (to)
accelerate
accelerated
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Cite this Entry

“Accelerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/accelerate. Accessed 25 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of accelerate for Spanish Speakers

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