decelerate

C2+ Topic:Space, Position & Direction

US /diˈsɛləˌreɪt/ UK /diːˈsɛləreɪt/ See IPA manual

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to reduce speed; to slow down

The train began to decelerate as it neared the station.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to reduce speed; to slow down slow brake retard slackenease off

Opposites

acceleratespeed upquicken hasten

Word family

Derived forms decelerationdecelerator

Related forms accelerate celerity

Etymology

A modern coinage (late 19th century) from de- ('reverse, reduce') plus a base from accelerate, ultimately from Latin celer ('swift'), modeled on accelerate.

de- Latin celer Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Space, Position & Direction Word Formation & Derivatives

# decelerate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** diˈsɛləˌreɪt
**IPA (UK):** diːˈsɛləreɪt

## Meanings
1. to reduce speed; to slow down

## Examples
- The train began to decelerate as it neared the station.

## Synonyms
- slow
- brake
- retard
- slacken
- ease off

## Antonyms
- accelerate
- speed up
- quicken
- hasten

## Derived Forms
- deceleration
- decelerator

## Related Forms
- accelerate
- celerity

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: de-
- Root: celer

## Etymology
A modern coinage (late 19th century) from de- ('reverse, reduce') plus a base from accelerate, ultimately from Latin celer ('swift'), modeled on accelerate.

## AI Etymology
Decelerate is a modern coinage (late 19th century) from de- ('reverse, reduce') plus a base from accelerate, ultimately from Latin celer ('swift'), modeled on accelerate. Important recorded forms include de- (Latin) and celer (Latin). The current sense covers to reduce speed; to slow down. The wider family includes derived forms such as deceleration and decelerator and related words such as accelerate and celerity.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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decelerate

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