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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
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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 steigen
to rise / climb
'steigen' and 'beschleunigen' can both express that something increases. The difference lies in the area of use: 'steigen' is general and fits amounts, prices, temperatures, or levels. 'beschleunigen' is used when something becomes faster or when someone makes a process faster. Learners may confuse the words because speed can both 'steigen' (rise) and 'sich beschleunigen' (accelerate). As a practical rule: with numbers and values, 'steigen' is usually more natural; with speed, vehicles, or processes, 'beschleunigen' is more precise.
beschleunigen
Durch die neue Software beschleunigt das Team die Bearbeitung der Anträge.
With the new software, the team speeds up the processing of applications.
steigen
Die Zahl der Besucher steigt jedes Jahr.
The number of visitors rises every year.
In real life
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