verb

hasten

HAY-sn

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Hasten (verb) means to move or act quickly, or to make something happen sooner. Example: “She hastened to explain that it was all a misunderstanding.”

verb

To move or act quickly, or to make something happen sooner.

"A dearth of signalmen and the high cost of labour is hastening an elimination process that already was well under way before the second world war." — C. H. Betts, St. Pancras Tunnel Signalbox (1956)

"She hastened to explain that it was all a misunderstanding."

"Poor diet can hasten the onset of illness."

How to use hasten

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo speed up — either yourself moving faster, or causing some event to arrive earlier than it would have.

Common pairings

hasten to add hasten the process hasten someone's recovery

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Third person singular: hastens
Past tense: hastened

Test yourself on “hasten” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She _____ to explain that it was all a misunderstanding.

Etymology

Formed from "haste" plus the verb-forming suffix "-en," on the pattern of words like "sweeten" or "loosen."

Synonyms

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hotfoot hie expedite induce hurry speed festinate race quicken speed up rush zoom

Antonyms

postpone procrastinate defer hesitate

Related words

wait cause table race speed determine rush bow

Rhymes for hasten

fasten

See all rhymes for hasten →

Frequently asked questions

What does “hasten” mean?

The word “hasten” means to move or act quickly, or to make something happen sooner. In plain terms, to speed up — either yourself moving faster, or causing some event to arrive earlier than it would have.

How do you pronounce “hasten”?

“Hasten” is pronounced HAY-sn (/ˈheɪ.sn̩/ in IPA).

How do you use “hasten” in a sentence?

Here is “hasten” used in a sentence: “She hastened to explain that it was all a misunderstanding.”

What is another word for “hasten”?

Words with a similar meaning to “hasten” include race, quicken, speed up, rush and zoom.

What part of speech is “hasten”?

“Hasten” is a verb.

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