acceleration

noun

ac·​cel·​er·​a·​tion ik-ˌse-lə-ˈrā-shən 

(ˌ)ak-

1

a

: the act or process of moving faster or happening more quickly : the act or process of accelerating

rapid acceleration

the acceleration of economic growth

b

: ability to accelerate

a car with good acceleration

2

physics : the rate of change of velocity with respect to time

broadly : change of velocity

Examples of acceleration in a Sentence

The car delivers quick acceleration.

There has been some acceleration in economic growth.

There has been an acceleration in economic growth.

Recent Examples on the Web

More About The Engine The torque, delivered even at low speeds and is available as soon as the throttle is opened, gives the scooter powerful, progressive acceleration when navigating urban environments that require the rider to slow down and then speed up again. —Josh Max, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

Analysts predict consumer electronic sales will decrease 3% year over year in 2024, but that is actually an improvement from last year’s 7.9% decline as demand bottomed after a sales acceleration during the Covid-19 pandemic. —Paulina Likos, CNBC, 2 Nov. 2024

Baxter also said acceleration of growth in the fourth quarter will come from the launch of Lee x. —Vicki M. Young, Sourcing Journal, 1 Nov. 2024

Much of this money will go to heavy cargo infrastructure, but some port cities, including New York, which have already begun to invest in zero-emission passenger ferries, could see an acceleration of those efforts. —Leah Carroll, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French acceleratiun, borrowed from Latin accelerātiōn-, accelerātiō, from accelerāre "to accelerate" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of action nouns

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing acceleration

• acceleration of gravity
• acceleration principle
• angular acceleration

Kids Definition

acceleration

noun

ac·​cel·​er·​a·​tion ik-ˌsel-ə-ˈrā-shən 

ak-

1

: the act or process of accelerating : the state of being accelerated

2

: the rate of change of velocity with respect to time

also : change in velocity

Medical Definition

acceleration

noun

ac·​cel·​er·​a·​tion ik-ˌsel-ə-ˈrā-shən, (ˌ)ak- 

1

: the act or process of accelerating : the state of being accelerated

2

: change of velocity

also : the rate of this change

3

: advancement in mental growth or achievement beyond the average for one's age