verb
hasten
HAY-sun/ˈheɪsn/
To increase the speed with which something happens.
The sight of the approaching bus hastens the person's steps.
Etymology
Haster meant both to hurry and to urge something along. Hasten extends the existing verb haste with -en, retaining that pairing: moving faster oneself or making something happen sooner.
In context
I knew that I ought to hasten my descent towards the valley as I should soon be encompassed in darkness but my heart was heavy and my steps slow
More examples
- The new software hastens the review of loan applications.
- Starting treatment early can hasten recovery.
- The factory's closure hastened the town's decline.
Forms
hasten · hastens · hastened · hastening
haste noun — Great speed or urgency in action.
Similar words
- accelerate
- Emphasizes increasing a process's rate rather than advancing its timing.
- expedite
- Usually means speeding up practical tasks by removing delays.