acceleration

noun

Definition of accelerationnext
as in rate
an increasing in speed or rate of occurrence Experts predict a steady acceleration in economic growth over the next two years.

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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 acceleration Europe saw an acceleration, with revenues increasing 4 percent in the third quarter after a flat second quarter. — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026 Yet in a culture that equates progress with perpetual acceleration, to pause is to risk obsolescence. — Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 12 Oct. 2026 The propulsion system can deliver thrust in multiple stages, helping maintain control over acceleration throughout the flight. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026 This would mark the second straight week that Bell’s acceleration, one of his biggest selling points as a then-prospect out of Louisville, really shined. — Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for acceleration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acceleration
  1. rate
  2. pace
  3. speed
  4. velocity
Noun
  • The cancer’s five-year survival rate is less than 7%, according to WEHI.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026
  • However, the time required to assemble an individual robot differs from the rate at which a production line can manufacture multiple units.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of rate
Noun
  • Holden’s vignettes are caked in grime and emerge at a reckless pace.
    — Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Florida has accelerated its pace of executions amid a flurry of death warrants signed by DeSantis since 2025.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of pace
Noun
  • In reality, both objects orbit the star in the same direction, just at different, changing speeds.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Power is routed to the rear wheels through a new six-speed manual gearbox.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of speed
Noun
  • The broad market's rise lifted some components of the S & P 500 – notably a few energy stocks – into overbought territory, based on the relative strength index (RSI), a momentum indicator that tracks the velocity and size of price changes.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The latter scope which includes the instruments HARPS (High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher) and NIRPS (Near Infra Red Planet Searcher), which astronomers use to find and study exoplanets — worlds outside of our solar system.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of velocity

Browse Nearby Words

accelerating
acceleration
accent
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Cite this Entry

“Acceleration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acceleration. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on acceleration

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about acceleration

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