speed up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to informal. The noun form 'speed-up' is more formal/technical.
Quick answer
What does “speed up” mean?
To increase in rate or velocity.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To increase in rate or velocity.
To make a process happen or progress more quickly; to accelerate the pace of something.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major syntactic differences. The noun form 'speed-up' is slightly more common in American business/tech contexts (e.g., 'a processing speed-up').
Connotations
Shared connotations of efficiency and progress. Can imply haste or pressure in some contexts.
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties, with near-identical usage patterns.
Grammar
How to Use “speed up” in a Sentence
NP speed up (intransitive)NP speed up NP (transitive)NP speed NP up (transitive, separable phrasal verb)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “speed up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The lorry sped up as it joined the motorway.
- Can you speed up the cheque-clearing process?
- The government pledged to speed up hospital waiting lists.
American English
- The truck sped up merging onto the freeway.
- We need to speed up the check-clearing process.
- The administration vowed to speed up hospital wait times.
adverb
British English
- The video played speeded-up.
- He worked at a speeded-up pace to meet the deadline.
American English
- The video played sped-up.
- He worked at a sped-up pace to meet the deadline.
adjective
British English
- The new software resulted in a sped-up rendering time.
- We watched a sped-up replay of the goal.
American English
- The new software led to a sped-up render time.
- We watched a speeded-up replay of the touchdown.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for processes, timelines, and productivity (e.g., 'We need to speed up the launch').
Academic
Used in scientific contexts for reactions, processes, or data analysis.
Everyday
Common for travel, cooking, work tasks, and technology (e.g., 'My computer needs to speed up').
Technical
Used in computing (processing speed), engineering (mechanical processes), and logistics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “speed up”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “speed up”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “speed up”
- *I need to speed up it. (Correct: I need to speed it up.)
- *The car speed up at the lights. (Correct: The car sped up at the lights.)
- Using 'speed up' where 'rush' is more appropriate for people.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both 'sped up' and 'speeded up' are acceptable, though 'sped up' is more common for literal motion (e.g., a car) and 'speeded up' is often used for processes.
The phrasal verb is neutral but leans informal. In very formal writing, synonyms like 'accelerate' or 'expedite' might be preferred.
Yes, the hyphenated noun 'speed-up' is used, especially in technical or business contexts (e.g., 'a significant speed-up in processing').
'Speed up' focuses on increasing the rate of an activity or process. 'Hurry up' is a direct instruction to a person or people to act more quickly, often implying lateness.
To increase in rate or velocity.
Speed up: in British English it is pronounced /ˌspiːd ˈʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌspid ˈʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Put the pedal to the metal”
- “Step on it”
- “Get a move on”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a speedometer's needle moving UP to a higher number.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS MOTION / PROCESSES ARE JOURNEYS (moving faster along a path).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a correct usage of 'speed up'?