expedite

Expedite is a transitive verb meaning to speed up the progress of something or to facilitate its completion. It can apply to processes, orders, shipments, decisions, or any task that benefits from acceleration. The noun form is typically a person who speeds things up (expediter or expeditor), while the adjective forms include expedited (showing that something has been accelerated) and expeditious (performing with speed and efficiency). The adverb is expeditiously.

Etymology and sense: The word derives from Latin expeditus, meaning unimpeded or free, and entered English through French and other intermediaries. The core idea is removing obstacles to achieve quicker results, rather than merely acting quickly without regard to obstacles.

Usage and contexts: Expedite is common in business, logistics, government, and legal settings. In logistics, it may involve prioritizing a shipment or reallocating resources to shorten the delivery time. In administrative or regulatory contexts, to expedite a process means to accelerate reviews, approvals, or filings. In customer service, expedited handling promises faster service, such as expedited shipping or expedited processing of a request.

Examples:

- The supplier agreed to expedite the order.

- The agency took steps to expedite the permit review process.

- They offer expedited shipping for orders placed before noon.

Notes: Expedite implies intentional action to overcome delays, rather than merely doing something faster. It is generally used in formal or professional writing; in everyday language, clearer alternatives like “speed up,” “accelerate,” or “prioritize” may be preferable.