expedite
/ˈɛk.spɪ.daɪt/To make a process, task, or action happen faster than normal, especially by removing delays or obstacles. It is commonly used in formal, business, and administrative contexts.
- The embassy agreed to expedite the visa application.
- Can you expedite the delivery? We need it by Friday.
- New software was introduced to expedite the approval process.
Adinary Nuance
Expedite is often confused with its near-neighbors accelerate, hasten, and facilitate — but each word has a distinct job. Accelerate focuses on increasing the speed of something already moving (you accelerate a vehicle, a trend, a reaction); expedite focuses specifically on clearing away obstacles or procedural delays so that a process can finish sooner. Hasten carries a tone of urgency or even anxiety ("she hastened to respond"), while expedite is cooler and more administrative — it belongs in offices, forms, and boardrooms. Facilitate means to make something easier, not necessarily faster; you can facilitate learning without expediting it. In IELTS writing, choose expedite when you want to sound precise and formal about reducing bureaucratic or procedural delay.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- Thúc đẩy
- Spanish
- Agilizar
- Chinese
- 加快处理
- Japanese
- 促進する
- Korean
- 촉진하다
Etymology
From Latin "expedire," meaning "to free from a snare" or "make ready," combining "ex-" (out) and "pes/pedis" (foot). The word entered English in the late 15th century, originally meaning "to perform quickly or without hindrance."
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is 'expedite' formal or informal?
- It is formal. Use it in business emails, official requests, and academic or IELTS writing. In casual conversation, 'speed up' or 'hurry along' sounds more natural.
- What is the difference between 'expedite' and 'facilitate'?
- 'Expedite' means to make something happen *faster*. 'Facilitate' means to make something *easier* or smoother. A system can facilitate a task without necessarily making it quicker.
- How do I use 'expedite' correctly in a sentence?
- 'Expedite' is a transitive verb — it must be followed by an object. Say 'expedite the process' or 'expedite your request,' NOT 'expedite to finish' or 'expedite quickly.'
- Can I use 'expedite' in an IELTS essay?
- Yes, and it will strengthen your vocabulary score. Use it when writing about policy, administration, or efficiency — for example: 'Governments should expedite the transition to clean energy.'