Expedite is a verb meaning to speed up a process or action. It implies taking steps to ensure something happens more quickly, often by removing obstacles or streamlining tasks. It can be used in formal and professional contexts to describe efficient handling or prompt action.
US: flatter /ə/ in the second syllable, richer /æ/ in EX; UK: slightly narrower vowels; AU: broader /ə/ and a more fronted /ɪ/ in some speakers. All share /ˈɛk.spəˌdaɪt/. Accent tips: enunciate the /sp/ cluster clearly by pressing the tongue blade to the alveolar ridge for a crisp release; practice the /daɪt/ as a smooth glide into the final /t/. Use IPA cues: /ˈɛk/ with a darker /ɛ/ in US, a more open /æ/ variant in some UK; /spə/ with a strong schwa; /daɪt/ as a tight, high-front glide to /t/.
"The manager asked the team to expedite the project to meet the client's deadline."
"To expedite refunds, please provide your receipt and order number."
"The courier service will expedite the shipment for urgent delivery."
"The engineering team is expediting reviews to avoid delays in production."
Expedite comes from the Latin verb expedire, from ex- 'out' + ped- 'foot' (via the root ped- meaning 'foot' in the sense of setting things in order or freeing a path). The form expedite appeared in Late Middle English, borrowed through French and Latin scholarly usage. Originally related to freeing a path or making something swift by removing hindrances, it broadened in general English to mean facilitating or hastening any process. The transition from concrete physical movement (expedere, to free the feet, to “clear the way”) to abstract process acceleration reflects a common semantic shift in professional language, where operational or administrative tasks are sped up. First known uses in English literature surface in the 16th-17th centuries in bureaucratic or legal contexts, and by the 18th-19th centuries it was common in business correspondence and formal instruction to “expedite” operations or shipments, indicating efficient handling and prompt action. Today, the word frequently appears in corporate, logistics, and administrative discourse, often paired with verbs like “to expedite,” “to expedite the processing,” or “to expedite approval.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Expedite" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Expedite" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Expedite"
-ite sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounced /ˈɛk.spəˌdaɪt/ in US/UK/AU variants. The syllable break is EX-PE-dite, with primary Stress on the first syllable EX-. The mid vowel in the second syllable is a schwa /ə/, the third syllable carries a secondary stress as ˌdaɪt transitions to the final /t/. When you articulate, start with a crisp /ɛ/ then a quick /k/ followed by /sp/ cluster, then /ə/ neutral vowel, /daɪ/ as in ride, ending with /t/. For audio, you can check standard pronunciation dictionaries or Pronounce resources labeled with IPA /ˈɛk.spəˌdaɪt/.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing the stress, saying expediTe or expeDITE with final emphasis; 2) Skipping the schwa in the second syllable, giving /ɛk-spi-dait/ instead of /ˈɛk.spəˌdaɪt/; 3) Tripping on the /sp/ cluster, pronouncing /spl/ or /sp/ too loosely. Corrections: keep primary stress on EX-, insert a clear schwa in the second syllable /spə/ and maintain a crisp /daɪ/ before final /t/. Practice by isolating EX- /ˈɛk/ then slowly adding /spə/ and finishing /daɪt/.
In US/UK/AU, the core IPA /ˈɛk.spəˌdaɪt/ remains, but vowel quality can shift. US tends to a tighter /ˈɛk/ with a flatter /ə/; UK often features a slightly rounded /ə/ and crisper /daɪt/. Australian tends toward a broader, more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and a slightly stronger final stop. All share rhoticity differences minimally, but the most noticeable is vowel length and quality in the second syllable. Listen for the subtle /ə/ vs /ɜː/ variations and the final /t/ release.
Difficulties center on the consonant cluster /sp/ immediately after a stressed syllable and the vowel sequence /əˌdaɪ/. The even distribution of the schwa /ə/ and the diphthong /aɪ/ requires precise tongue positioning and jaw relaxation. The risk is reducing /ə/ into a schwa plus over-emphasizing /daɪ/ or not releasing the final /t/ clearly. Also, keeping the primary stress on EX while moving quickly to /ˌdaɪt/ can feel counterintuitive. Focus on the clean /sp/ release and the /daɪt/ glide into a crisp /t/.
Unique question focuses on the phonetic impact of the second syllable: /spə/. Some speakers reduce the second syllable so it sounds like /spɪ/ or /spə/ without a full /ə/; to maintain accuracy, aim for a brief but audible schwa /ə/ and keep the /sp/ cluster tight. Also note the sequence EX-/ˈɛk/ then /spə/ then /daɪt/. This ensures clear syllable boundaries and preserved meaning, especially in careful speech.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Expedite"!
- Shadowing: listen to 2-3 native speakers (US/UK/AU) saying Expedite; repeat exactly, matching timing and intonation. - Minimal pairs: /ˈɛk.spəˌdaɪt/ vs /ˈɛk.spəˌdeɪt/ to anchor /daɪt/ vs /deɪt/. - Rhythm: practice stress-timed pattern: EX- (unstressed? no, stressed) then /spə/ quick, then /ˌdaɪt/. - Stress practice: place primary stress on EX and secondary on the final syllable; phrase-level stress when used in sentences. - Recording: record and compare to canonical pronunciations; note mouth positions and pauses. - Context sentences: “We need to expedite the approval process.” “They will expedite the shipping after verification.”
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