speed up

speed up

1. To increase in speed; to move or function at a faster or higher rate. Be sure to speed up when you're overtaking a vehicle on the road. The automated process began speeding up once I shut down all the other ancillary systems.

2. To cause someone or something to increase in speed or rate of activity. A noun or pronoun can be used between "speed" and "up." You want an activity that will gradually speed your heartrate up. We are speeding up production now that we know there is such strong demand from consumers.

See also: speed, up

speed someone or something up

to cause someone or something to move faster. We tried to speed him up, but he is just a very slow person. We sped up the process, but it still took too long.

See also: speed, up

speed up

to go faster. Please speed up. We are late.

See also: speed, up

speed up

Accelerate, expedite, increase the rate, as in The car speeded up as it went downhill, or It's difficult to speed up production without new equipment. [Late 1800s]

See also: speed, up

speed up

v.

1. To increase the speed or rate of something; accelerate something: The company sped up production in order to meet the demand for their product. The conveyor belt is moving too slowly—can you speed it up?

2. To move, work, or happen at a faster rate; accelerate: As he hiked uphill, his pulse sped up.

See also: speed, up