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

The fastest rates of sea level rise are in Gulf states, like Texas and Louisiana, but many of the East Coast cities like Norfolk, Virginia, and Solomons Island, Maryland, are also seeing rapid acceleration, due to patterns of water distribution related to glacial melt from the Greenland ice sheet. —Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025

That policy changed dramatically after Saudi Arabia and several of its OPEC+ allies announced a shock acceleration to production increase plans in April, even as markets and crude prices were tanking on the news of U.S.-imposed global tariffs. —Natasha Turak, CNBC, 11 May 2025

Don’t let the 4.46-second 40-yard dash time fool you, Horn — the final Panthers pick from last month’s draft — has incredible acceleration as a deep-route runner. —Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 9 May 2025

Unlike the other quickening ice streams, whose average acceleration sped up by 51 percent since 2005, the Kohler West ice stream slowed by 10 percent. —Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 8 May 2025

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

Rhymes for acceleration

• abbreviation
• abomination
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration
• affiliation

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