Spanish word

acelerar

Pronunciation

IPA/aθeleˈɾaɾ/

Meaning

  • verbspeed up

Example

Tenemos que acelerar si queremos llegar a tiempo.

We have to speed up if we want to arrive on time.

Illustration for acelerar (speed up)

More examples

Para cumplir el plazo, tenemos que acelerar el proceso de revisión.

To meet the deadline, we have to speed up the process of review.

Core concept

Speedometer needle climbing as a vehicle gains speed.

Common phrases

  • acelerar el ritmo

    speed up the pace

  • acelerar el proceso

    speed up the process

  • acelerar el paso

    pick up the pace

Similar words

apurar: Rushes through tasks or travels quickly to meet a deadline or arrive on time.
apresurar: Moves a task or person along more quickly by taking steps that speed completion.
dar prisa: Prompts someone to hurry, encouraging faster action or an earlier outcome.

Definition in Spanish

Hacer que algo vaya más deprisa o aumentar su velocidad.

Word origin

Built from Latin celer 'swift' with the verb-forming element -are in accelerare, which gave Spanish acelerar the sense 'increase speed'.

Usage tips

  • A clear cognate of English accelerate but spelled with one c in Spanish (acelerar), and it commonly pairs with proyecto, ritmo or paso rather than as a direct command to a person.

Other meanings

  • expediteverb

Opposites

  • desacelerarslow downverb
  • frenarbrakeverb

Related words

  • aceleraciónaccelerationnoun
  • aceleradoracceleratornoun
  • aceleradoacceleratedadjective

Word lists with this word