From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishaccelerateac‧cel‧e‧rate /əkˈseləreɪt/ ●○○ verb 1 [intransitive, transitive]FAST/QUICK if a process accelerates or if something accelerates it, it happens faster than usual or sooner than you expect measures to accelerate the rate of economic growth2 [intransitive]TTFAST/QUICK if a vehicle or someone who is driving it accelerates, it starts to go faster OPP decelerate The car accelerated smoothly away.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
accelerate• At the same time Greebo shot past Agnes, accelerating.• As the 1860s drew to a close, Kansas effectively put its violent heritage behind; change accelerated by leaps and bounds.• The truck's wheels skidded on the snow as the driver accelerated forward.• The Ferrari can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.• Mr Henley has accelerated his sale of shares over the past year.• Zebtech is accelerating its cost-cutting program by cutting 2,500 jobs.• Under generally accepted accounting principles, companies may use straight-line or one of the accelerated methods of depreciation for financial accounting purposes.• Effects on family life probably include contrary tendencies - accelerating or delaying decisions to start families, for example.• Mainstream economists profess much puzzlement over the failure of the rate of productivity growth to accelerate so far in this decade.• As you accelerated, you would see the Universe itself appear to squash up in the direction of flight.From Longman Business Dictionaryaccelerateac‧cel‧e‧rate /əkˈseləreɪt/ verb1[intransitive, transitive] to happen more quickly, or make something happen more quicklyEconomic growth should accelerate as the year goes on.There are fears that higher oil prices would accelerate inflation.2[intransitive]ECONOMICS when the economy accelerates, demand for goods increasesThe President will strive to keep the economy accelerating as the election nears.3[transitive]FINANCE to agree that a debt should be repaid more quickly, either because the borrower and lender both want this, or because the borrower has failed to make necessary payments and the lender has the right to demand full repaymentIf you get behind on your house payments, the creditor may call the loan in default, accelerate the debt, and begin foreclosure proceedings.A demand has now been made for accelerated payment of the debt. —acceleration noun [uncountable]The major risk is that a sharp acceleration in inflation may increase the budget cash deficit.59 consecutive months of economic accelerationFailure to resolve the default within 30 days could trigger acceleration of the repayment schedule.→ See Verb tableOrigin accelerate (1500-1600) Latin past participle of accelerare, from ad- “to” + celer “fast” 