Expedite and Expeditate: Definitions and Synonyms
Definition and Part of Speech
Expedite and expediate are primarily verbs used to describe the act of making a process or action occur more quickly or efficiently.
- Expedite: To speed up the progress, completion, or passage of something.
- Expeditate: An archaic term also meaning to hasten or quicken, often considered synonymous with expedite but is rarely used in modern English.
Core Synonyms
Below is a table outlining several synonyms for “expedite” and “expediate,” along with brief definitions, example sentences, and the style or register in which they are typically used:
| Synonym | Brief Definition/Nuance | Example Sentence | Style/Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accelerate | To increase speed or cause to progress faster | “We need to accelerate project timelines.” | Formal/Business |
| Hasten | To make something happen more quickly | “Hasten your efforts to meet the deadline.” | Casual/Formal |
| Facilitate | To make an action or process easier | “This tool is designed to facilitate workflow.” | Academic/Formal |
| Speed Up | To cause a process to move faster | “Please speed up delivery of these documents.” | Informal/Business |
| Prompt | To urge or stimulate into prompt action | “We should prompt our team for a quicker response.” | Formal/Informal |
Usage Notes
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Accelerate: Often used in technical, business, or engineering contexts. Suitable for situations where the emphasis is on increasing the rate of progress.
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Business: “The new software will accelerate data processing.”
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Hasten: Versatile and can be used both formally and casually; implies a sense of urgency.
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Casual: “Let’s hasten to catch the bus, it’s about to leave.”
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Facilitate: Commonly used in academic or formal settings. Implies making a process smoother or more efficient rather than just faster.
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Academic: “The workshop aimed to facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration.”
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Speed Up: Informal and straightforward; best suited for everyday conversation or casual business contexts.
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Informal: “Can you speed up the coffee machine?”
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Prompt: Has a connotation of encouragement or urging action, often used in both personal and professional settings.
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Professional: “We need to prompt our suppliers for faster delivery.”
Common Pitfalls
A common mistake is using “expedite” interchangeably with “expedite,” not recognizing the latter as an archaic term. Additionally, some might confuse facilitate with simply making something happen quicker; while facilitation often results in improved efficiency or ease, it doesn’t always imply a faster pace.
Final Recap
In this exploration of “expedite” and its synonyms, we’ve covered terms like accelerate, hasten, facilitate, speed up, and prompt. Each synonym carries subtle differences:
- Accelerate and speed up focus on increasing velocity or progress rate.
- Hasten emphasizes urgency and quicker action.
- Facilitate involves making a process more efficient, with an implication of smoothing obstacles rather than merely speeding things up.
- Prompt implies urging or encouraging faster action.
Understanding these nuances can enhance your vocabulary, allowing for precise expression in various contexts—whether you’re drafting business communications or engaging in casual dialogue. Try crafting sentences using each synonym to reinforce their meanings and applications.