acceleration
Americannoun
-
the act of accelerating; increase of speed or velocity.
-
a change in velocity.
-
Mechanics. the time rate of change of velocity with respect to magnitude or direction; the derivative of velocity with respect to time.
noun
-
the act of accelerating or the state of being accelerated
-
a. the rate of increase of speed or the rate of change of velocity
-
a. the power to accelerate
-
The rate of change of the velocity of a moving body. An increase in the magnitude of the velocity of a moving body (an increase in speed) is called a positive acceleration; a decrease in speed is called a negative acceleration. Acceleration, like velocity, is a vector quantity, so any change in the direction of a moving body is also an acceleration. A moving body that follows a curved path, even when its speed remains constant, is undergoing acceleration.
-
See more at gravity relativity
-
A change in the velocity of an object.
Discover More
The most familiar kind of acceleration is a change in the speed of an object. An object that stays at the same speed but changes direction, however, is also being accelerated. (See force.)
Other Word Forms
- nonacceleration noun
- overacceleration noun
- reacceleration noun
Etymology
Origin of acceleration
First recorded in 1525–35, acceleration is from the Latin word accelerātiōn- (stem of accelerātiō ). See accelerate, -ion
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“This continued acceleration will drive the narrative that Anthropic & OpenAI are consuming all IT budgets,” Thill wrote, especially considering that 77% of Jefferies’s software coverage is expected to show decelerating revenue growth in 2026.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026
“The payments industry is changing faster than ever, driven by new technologies, evolving regulations, an increasingly competitive landscape, and the rapid acceleration of AI that is reshaping commerce daily,” Lores said in a February statement.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026
Modern elevator advances give priority to smoother acceleration, energy efficiency and integration with autonomous robots.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026
This marks an acceleration from 48% growth in the fourth quarter of 2025 and is well above the Street’s call for 50% growth.
From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026
Dill buckled his seat belt the instant before her acceleration pressed him into his seat.
From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.