acceleration

A change in how fast something moves.

• The sudden acceleration pushed me into my seat.
• This car offers smooth acceleration.
• Passengers felt the plane’s acceleration during takeoff.

Common phrases: sudden acceleration, rapid acceleration, smooth acceleration

An increase in the speed of movement or in how quickly something happens.

• We noticed an acceleration in growth.
• New equipment allowed the acceleration of production.
• The acceleration of change left many workers struggling to adapt.

How to use it: acceleration of something (The acceleration of the project required extra staff.); acceleration in something (The report predicts an acceleration in economic growth.)

Similar words: speeding up, quickening

Opposites: deceleration, slowdown

Common phrases: acceleration of growth, rapid acceleration, economic acceleration

The amount by which speed or velocity increases over a given time.

• The car’s acceleration was two metres per second squared.
• We measured the rocket’s acceleration.
• Greater force produces greater acceleration for the same mass.

Common phrases: constant acceleration, average acceleration, acceleration of something, instantaneous acceleration

The rate at which the speed or direction of a moving object changes.

• We measured the acceleration of the car.
• The force produces an acceleration toward the center.
• Even at constant speed, a change in direction involves acceleration.

Common phrases: constant acceleration, acceleration due to gravity