sped (up)

verb

variants or speeded (up)
Definition of sped (up)next
past tense of speed (up)
as in accelerated
to cause to move or proceed fast or faster we have to speed up production if we are ever going to make the deadline

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sped (up)
  1. accelerated
  2. rushed
  3. pushed
  4. urged
  5. hurried
  6. encouraged
Verb
  • China accelerated its domestic chipmaking efforts after Washington tightened restrictions on Huawei Technologies in 2020, cutting the company off from TSMC.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Prince was able to free the ATV and accelerated toward the deputy, striking him and knocking him to the ground.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of accelerated
Verb
  • The baby was last, which might have been why doctors were able to briefly restart a heartbeat once he was rushed to the hospital after his father returned home.
    — Monica Hesse, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Security cameras on the Chinese side of the border captured people running from a wall of debris as floodwaters rushed through a border crossing, sweeping away vehicles and buildings.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of rushed
Verb
  • The threat of shortages pushed countries across Asia to impose export bans, cut import duties, and start rationing fuel to maintain supplies.
    — Katie Silver, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The extreme heat pushed up air conditioning electricity demand, while heavy storms simultaneously dealt a blow to power supplies in parts of the country.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of pushed
Verb
  • The alert urged residents in the affected area to leave immediately and travel east on FM 2210.
    — Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Anyone with information about the shooting is urged to contact Independence police at 816-325-7330 or the anonymous TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of urged
Verb
  • When Huijsen was forced off the pitch to receive treatment for a cut to his head, temporarily leaving Madrid with 10 men, Mourinho hurried the doctors and physios along.
    — Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The other officers hurried to the second scene as Hernandez tackled a fleeing Edgar to the ground.
    — Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of hurried
Verb
  • When government applies the rules consistently, businesses have the confidence to invest, innovation is encouraged, public institutions earn greater trust and the public benefits.
    — Robin Rossenfeld, Denver Post, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Anyone with information on the collision is encouraged to contact Officer Giovanni Zaino of the Middletown Police Patrol Division at 860-638-4000, ext 6323.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of encouraged
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

sped
sped (up)
speech
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sped (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sped%20%28up%29. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dissonant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All