beschleunigen
to accelerate
To increase the speed of something or someone.
EXAMPLE
Auf der Geraden konnte der Rennfahrer seinen Wagen stark beschleunigen.
On the straightaway, the race car driver was able to accelerate his car sharply.
beschleunigen
to accelerate
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Meanings
beschleunigen
to speed up
To make a process, development, or procedure happen faster.
EXAMPLE
Die Digitalisierung der Verwaltung soll viele Antragsverfahren beschleunigen.
The digitalization of administration is intended to speed up many application procedures.
sich beschleunigen
to accelerate
To become faster; to increase in speed. Often refers to processes or developments.
EXAMPLE
Der Klimawandel scheint sich in den letzten Jahren zu beschleunigen.
Climate change seems to have accelerated in recent years.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
The prefix 'be-' is inseparable and turns the adjective 'schnell' (fast) into a verb. 'Beschleunigen' (to accelerate) literally means 'to make something fast' and almost always requires an accusative object.
EXAMPLE
Der Zug beschleunigte seine Fahrt nach dem Halt im Bahnhof.
The train accelerated its journey after stopping at the station.
Concrete and abstract use
You can accelerate concrete things like a vehicle, but also abstract things. In a figurative sense, it is often used for processes, developments, or procedures that are meant to be made faster.
EXAMPLE
Er beschleunigte das Auto auf 180 km/h.
He accelerated the car to 180 km/h.
Reflexive use
The reflexive form 'sich beschleunigen' means that something becomes faster on its own. Here, there is no person actively increasing the speed; rather, the process or development gains momentum.
EXAMPLE
Die globale Erwärmung hat sich in den letzten Jahrzehnten deutlich beschleunigt.
Global warming has accelerated significantly in recent decades.
Typical collocations
In a figurative sense, 'beschleunigen' (to speed up) is often combined with abstract nouns. Typical examples are: to speed up a process, a decision, growth, or a development.
EXAMPLE
Die Regierung möchte den Ausbau der erneuerbaren Energien beschleunigen.
The government wants to speed up the expansion of renewable energies.
Compare with
beschleunigen vs antreiben
to drive / motivate
Both words can refer to someone working or acting faster. Beschleunigen mainly describes an increase in speed, while antreiben emphasizes actively motivating, pressuring, or spurring someone on. Choose “beschleunigen” for the pace and “antreiben” for pressure from another person.
beschleunigen
Der Läufer beschleunigte auf den letzten hundert Metern sein Tempo.
The runner accelerated his pace over the final hundred meters.
antreiben
Der Trainer trieb den Läufer auf den letzten hundert Metern an.
The coach urged the runner on over the final hundred meters.
In real life
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