Phrasal verb
speed up
Meanings
to go faster or move faster
to make something happen sooner or to make a process faster
Definition
To speed up means to do something faster or to make a process happen more quickly.
To speed up means to increase how fast something happens. You can speed up your own actions, like working or moving faster, or you can speed up a process, like a delivery or a computer task. It is often used when you want to reduce the time something takes.
Examples
- Please speed up—we’re going to miss the train.
- I tried to speed up my typing before the deadline.
- He had to speed up to merge safely into traffic.
- They’re hiring more staff to speed up the shipping process.
Common mistake
Learners often say "speed up faster" even though "speed up" already means "go faster."
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.