acceleration

noun

Definition of accelerationnext
as in rate
an increasing in speed or rate of occurrence Experts predict a steady acceleration in economic growth over the next two years.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of acceleration In a time defined by AI acceleration, expanding cybersecurity risks and relentless pressure to grow, organizations can no longer afford leadership models that diffuse responsibility when outcomes fall short. — Guy Yehiav, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026 This will add up to 144MB of additional cache to the CPU and will also show up in other gaming-centric CPUs in the lineup, offering that kind of acceleration for more affordable chips. — Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026 Millett testified that the acceleration could have been caused by Linton’s leg going stiff. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026 And anybody who tries to stop tech acceleration toward this maximal AI eat-the-world universe is threatening the continuation of humanity. — Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for acceleration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for acceleration
  1. rate
  2. pace
  3. speed
  4. velocity
Noun
  • Growing up amid high divorce rates has also made younger couples more conscious of protecting their financial independence.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Iowa is the only state in the country with a growing cancer diagnosis rate and ranks second, next to Kentucky, in the number of overall cancer cases.
    — Gabrielle M. Etzel, The Washington Examiner, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of rate
Noun
  • What to do nearby My walk to Compo Beach along the golf course’s winding paths and then through a picturesque neighborhood of shiplap homes took just under 30 minutes at a brisk pace.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The scientists ruled out a 2016 volcanic eruption as the cause, given the downward trend had started several years before and has maintained a steady pace across the years.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of pace
Noun
  • On a circular track, place a group of runners, all of whom run at unique, constant speeds.
    — Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Layoffs are low but caution is high Layoff activity hasn’t picked up speed, according to the Labor Department’s weekly reports on unemployment insurance filings.
    — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of speed
Noun
  • Preliminary flight data show the plane descended 17,400 feet over 92 seconds while reaching a peak velocity close to the speed of sound.
    — Christine Valora, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2026
  • As global markets demanded higher performance thresholds, Gaydon answered with the ferocious Aston Martin DBX707, a high-velocity machine with premium luxury credentials plus supercar-slaying straight-line velocity.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of velocity

Browse Nearby Words

accelerating
acceleration
accent
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Acceleration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/acceleration. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on acceleration

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about acceleration

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All