hasten

Hasten is a verb meaning to cause something to move or develop more quickly, or to proceed more quickly oneself. It can be transitive, as in hasten a project, or intransitive, as in time hastens. It is commonly used with nouns such as progress, growth, the arrival, or the completion of something.

In usage, hasten is often followed by phrases such as hasten to do something or hasten the arrival. For example, efforts to hasten the completion of the project, the rain hastened the harvest, or she hastened to correct the mistake. It can also describe time itself: time hastens. The term carries a formal or literary tone and is more typical in written or historical contexts; everyday language favors faster or quicker alternatives.

Etymology: The verb hasten is derived from the noun haste, with the verb-forming suffix -en, and the noun haste comes from Old French hâte, meaning speed.

Synonyms include expedite, accelerate, quicken; antonyms include delay, hinder, obstruct. Common idioms include hasten to point out and hasten the day.