Meaning & use
expedite
Last updated
UK/ˈek.spə.daɪt/
US/ˈek.spə.daɪt/
Meaning
verbtransitiveformalbusiness
To make a process or task finish sooner by speeding up the steps.
Grammar: Takes an object: expedite the order.
Patterns
- expedite something
We paid extra to expedite the shipment.
The office agreed to expedite my visa application.
New software should expedite the approval process.
Word forms
| third person singular | expedites |
|---|---|
| past tense | expedited |
| past participle | expedited |
| -ing form | expediting |
Common combinations
- expedite the process
- Extra staff will expedite the process.
- expedite delivery
- Pay more to expedite delivery.
- expedite a request
- She asked them to expedite her request.
- expedited shipping
- Expedited shipping costs extra.
Synonyms and how they differ
- speed up
- Everyday phrase, less formal.
- accelerate
- Also means to go faster, in more general contexts.
- hasten
- Literary; to make something happen sooner.
- fast-track
- Informal; skipping usual steps.
Opposites
delayslow down
Word family
- expedient adjective
- convenient and practical
- expeditious adjective
- quick and efficient
- expedition noun
- a journey with a purpose
Commonly confused: expedite or expedient?
expedite vs expedient
Expedient means convenient or suited to a purpose; expedite means to speed up.
Practice
The clerk offered to ___ our passport applications for an extra fee.
Choose one answer.
Expedite means to speed up, which fits an extra fee. Postpone does the opposite.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “expedite”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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