Words / B2

uhk-SEL-uh-rayt/əkˈseləreɪt/

To accelerate is to happen faster, or to make something happen faster — more technical than speed up. Cars accelerate; a government can accelerate a project. Speed up is the everyday verb; hurry is about people rushing. Acceleration is the noun, and slow down / decelerate are the opposites — in conversation, speed up is almost always enough.

Meaning

To happen or make something happen more quickly.

Examples

• “The city accelerated the building work.”
• “Online shopping accelerated during the lockdown.”
• “The council accelerated repairs after the flood.”

Good to know

accelerate a process / a project. Everyday: speed up. Noun: acceleration. Opposite: slow down.

Near in meaning

speed up

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