accelerate
2 antonyms and opposites of accelerate, grouped by meaning.
Verb — To go faster, or to make something go faster.
Antonyms
How to use accelerate
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin accelerare, "to hasten," built from ad- ("to") plus celerare ("to hasten"), from celer, "swift" — the same root as celerity.
Full origin of accelerate →Frequently asked questions
What does “accelerate” mean?
The word “accelerate” means to go faster, or to make something go faster. In plain terms, to speed up, whether that's a vehicle, a process, or a timeline.
How do you pronounce “accelerate”?
“Accelerate” is pronounced uhk-SEHL-uh-rayt (/ɪkˈsɛl.əˌɹeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “accelerate” in a sentence?
Here is “accelerate” used in a sentence: “The car accelerated quickly onto the motorway.”
What is another word for “accelerate”?
Words with a similar meaning to “accelerate” include quicken and speed up.
What is the opposite of “accelerate”?
The opposite of “accelerate” — its antonyms — are decelerate and unaccelerate.
What part of speech is “accelerate”?
“Accelerate” is a verb.
Where does the word “accelerate” come from?
The word “accelerate” comes from Latin. From Latin accelerare, "to hasten," built from ad- ("to") plus celerare ("to hasten"), from celer, "swift" — the same root as celerity.
Is “accelerate” a common word?
“Accelerate” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between accelerate and hasten?
Accelerate and hasten both mean to make something happen faster, but accelerate is used more often for physical speed, such as a car accelerating, as well as for processes and timelines. Hasten leans more toward causing an event or outcome to occur sooner, particularly in written or slightly formal contexts.
Can accelerate be used for things other than physical speed?
Yes, accelerate is commonly used for abstract processes as well as physical motion, such as accelerating economic growth or accelerating a project's timeline. In these cases it means making something happen sooner or more quickly than originally planned.
Is accelerate used both with and without an object?
Yes, accelerate can be used intransitively, as in "the car accelerated," or transitively, as in "the driver accelerated the car." Both patterns are standard depending on whether the subject is speeding up on its own or something else is causing the speeding up.