noun
Common
acceleration
uhk-sehl-uh-RAY-shuhn
Acceleration (noun) means an increase in speed, or the rate at which speed increases. Example: “The sports car is known for its fast acceleration.”
noun
1
An increase in speed, or the rate at which speed increases.
"The sports car is known for its fast acceleration."
"The pilot felt the acceleration pressing him back into his seat."
"Rapid acceleration uses more fuel than driving at a steady speed."
2
A speeding up of a process, trend, or timeline.
"The report noted an acceleration in job losses last quarter."
"The manager called for an acceleration of the building schedule."
"There has been an acceleration in the spread of online shopping."
How to use acceleration
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe act or rate of speeding up — used for vehicles, physics, or general trends.
Common pairings
rate of acceleration
sudden acceleration
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Word forms
- Plural
- accelerations
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The sports car is known for its fast _____.
Etymology
From Latin acceleratio, "a hastening," from accelerare, "to accelerate."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for acceleration
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for acceleration →
Frequently asked questions
What does “acceleration” mean?
The word “acceleration” means an increase in speed, or the rate at which speed increases. In plain terms, the act or rate of speeding up — used for vehicles, physics, or general trends.
How do you pronounce “acceleration”?
“Acceleration” is pronounced uhk-sehl-uh-RAY-shuhn (/əkˌsɛl.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “acceleration” in a sentence?
Here is “acceleration” used in a sentence: “The sports car is known for its fast acceleration.”
What is the opposite of “acceleration”?
The opposite of “acceleration” — its antonyms — are deceleration and retardation.
What part of speech is “acceleration”?
“Acceleration” is a noun.
Where does the word “acceleration” come from?
The word “acceleration” comes from Latin. From Latin acceleratio, "a hastening," from accelerare, "to accelerate.".
Is “acceleration” a common word?
“Acceleration” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “acceleration” have?
“Acceleration” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an increase in speed, or the rate at which speed increases.
What is the difference between acceleration and speed?
Speed describes how fast something is moving at a given moment, while acceleration describes the rate at which that speed is increasing (or decreasing). An object can move at high speed with zero acceleration if its speed stays constant.
What is the difference between acceleration and deceleration?
Acceleration refers to an increase in speed, while deceleration refers to a decrease in speed; both describe a rate of change in velocity, just in opposite directions. In everyday usage, "acceleration" is sometimes used loosely to cover both increases and decreases in speed.
How is "acceleration" used outside of physics or driving?
Outside physics, "acceleration" commonly describes a speeding up of a process, trend, or timeline, such as the acceleration of a project or of a broader trend. This figurative sense keeps the core idea of something increasing in rate rather than literal speed.
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