accelerate - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
accelerate Word Meanings
- to increase speed
- to hasten the progress of something
- to make something happen sooner
accelerate Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
accelerate Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/əkˈsɛləreɪt/
US
/ækˈsɛləˌreɪt/
accelerate Word Etymology
ac- = toward + celer = swift; from Latin 'accelerare' meaning to hasten. Imagine a cheetah (the swift animal) sprinting towards its prey, symbolizing speed and acceleration.,
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I press the gas, the car answers, and it begins to move faster. I keep my focus and adjust my grip as the world outside shifts. The engine's pulse pushes back and I feel the effort in my legs, a clean sense of control. Small choices to plan ahead let things move sooner, and the day keeps moving.
Real Context
Accelerate is a versatile verb meaning to increase speed or the rate of progress. It is used when you want to speed up something that is moving, happening, or developing, such as a vehicle, a process, or a project. You can accelerate reform, research, or growth, but you typically do so by applying effort, resources, or changes that make the thing move faster. Unlike simply 'speed up' in casual talk, accelerate often implies a purposeful push or plan, and it is commonly followed by nouns like speed, pace, progress, or development. Its etymology from Latin emphasizes a forward motion toward swift results.
Usage Reminders
- Use accelerate with a process or project you intend to speed up.
- Prefer it for deliberate, planned speeding up rather than casual quickening.
- Common pairs: accelerate progress, accelerate development, accelerate growth.
- Avoid saying 'accelerate the speed'—prefer 'speed up' or 'increase speed'.
- If talking about people, prefer 'speed up someone’s work' with a direct object like 'the team's work' rather than a person alone.
Common Misconceptions
- Confusing accelerate with speed up in every context
- Thinking you can accelerate a person as the subject
- Using it with passive structures like 'accelerated by' without a doer
- Mistaking it for hasten in formal business contexts
- Overusing it with trivial speeding up rather than deliberate planning
Thinking Differences
English often prefers explicit collocations with processes or projects and values a clear sense of deliberate action. Learners tend to overextend accelerate to everyday quickness or hurry instead of planning.
Learning Tips
- memorize common collocations: accelerate progress / development / growth
- differentiate from speed up in casual talk
- note that accelerate targets processes, not people
- practice with abstract nouns like progress and growth
- pair with planning or policy actions when discussing strategy
- listen for formal or technical tone when you hear accelerate
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'accelerate'?
A.To slow down
B.To stop completely
C.To increase speed
D.To move backwards
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence correctly uses the word 'accelerate'?
A.The turtle decided to accelerate its way to the finish line.
B.She tried to accelerate the process by waiting longer.
C.They want to accelerate the delivery of the package.
D.He ran to accelerate his chances of winning.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar to 'accelerate'?
A.Decelerate
B.Speed up
C.Halt
D.Remain steady
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'accelerate'?
A.Speed up
B.Enhance
C.Decelerate
D.Boost
Step 5: Mastery
Can you think of a real-life scenario of speeding up a project?
A.They waited for more information before proceeding.
B.The team worked overtime to finish early.
C.The deadline was pushed back to allow more time.
D.The project manager decided to reduce resources.
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