If you are wondering whether excelerate or accelerate is correct, the standard English word is accelerate. Excelerate is a misspelling. Accelerate means to become faster, make something move faster, or increase the speed or rate of something. For example, “The car began to accelerate after the light turned green.”
The confusion usually comes from the similar sound of the two words and from the word excel, which is correctly spelled with ex-. However, accelerate begins with acc-, not exc-. Learning the correct spelling is useful for students, ESL learners, writers, and professionals because accelerate commonly appears in discussions about speed, growth, progress, technology, business, and change. In this guide, you will learn the difference between excelerate vs accelerate, see practical examples, and discover an easy way to remember the correct spelling.
Quick Answer
Accelerate is the correct English spelling, while excelerate is a misspelling. Accelerate means to increase speed, make something happen faster, or increase the rate of progress or change. For example, “The company wants to accelerate its growth.” Use accelerate, not excelerate, in standard English.
Why Do People Confuse It?
People often confuse excelerate and accelerate because they sound somewhat similar when spoken quickly. The spelling can also be confusing because English has the legitimate word excel, which begins with ex-.
However, accelerate and excel are different words.
- accelerate = become faster or make something faster
- excel = perform extremely well or be exceptionally good at something
For example:
The car began to accelerate.
But:
She excels at mathematics.
The correct spelling of the speed-related word is always accelerate.
First Word: Excelerate
Excelerate is an incorrect spelling of accelerate in standard English.
It is usually created because the pronunciation of accelerate can make the beginning sound less obvious, leading some writers to spell it with ex-.
Incorrect:
The company plans to excelerate its expansion.
Correct:
The company plans to accelerate its expansion.
If you see excelerate in your writing, replace it with accelerate when you mean to increase speed or progress.
Second Word: Accelerate
Accelerate is the correct English word.
As a verb, accelerate can mean to:
- increase speed
- make something move faster
- make a process happen faster
- increase the rate of growth or change
- progress more quickly
For example:
The driver accelerated when the road became clear.
The word can describe physical movement as well as abstract processes:
The company accelerated its expansion.
Technology has accelerated the development process.
Excelerate vs Accelerate: Comparison Table
| Word | Correct? | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| excelerate | ❌ No | Misspelling of accelerate | The car began to excelerate. |
| accelerate | ✅ Yes | To become faster or make something faster | The car began to accelerate. |
The key difference is simple: accelerate is the standard word; excelerate is not.
When to Use Each
When to Use “Excelerate”
You should not use excelerate in standard English.
If you mean to say that something is becoming faster or that a process is speeding up, use accelerate.
When to Use “Accelerate”
Use accelerate when talking about increasing speed, progress, growth, or the rate of a process.
Common combinations include:
- accelerate growth
- accelerate development
- accelerate progress
- accelerate change
- accelerate production
- accelerate learning
- accelerate a process
- accelerate a vehicle
- accelerate expansion
- accelerate recovery
For example:
The new technology could accelerate the production process.
10+ Examples of Accelerate
- The driver began to accelerate after entering the highway.
- The company hopes to accelerate its growth.
- New technology can accelerate the development process.
- The car started to accelerate quickly.
- The program is designed to accelerate student learning.
- The discovery could accelerate scientific research.
- The business wants to accelerate its expansion.
- Heavy investment may accelerate economic development.
- The team worked to accelerate the project.
- The machine can accelerate the production process.
- The pace of change began to accelerate.
- The new strategy could accelerate progress toward the goal.
Notice that accelerate does not always refer to physical speed. It can also describe faster progress, growth, development, or change.
Common Mistakes
The most common mistake is writing excelerate instead of accelerate.
Incorrect:
We need to excelerate the process.
Correct:
We need to accelerate the process.
Another mistake is confusing accelerate with excel.
Accelerate
Means to become faster or make something faster.
The vehicle accelerated.
Excel
Means to perform exceptionally well.
She excels in science.
These words have different meanings and should not be used interchangeably.
A related word is acceleration, which is the noun form associated with increasing speed or the rate of change.
The vehicle’s acceleration was impressive.
Memory Trick
A simple way to remember the spelling is:
ACCELERATE starts with ACC.
Think:
ACC + ELERATE = ACCELERATE
You can also connect it with acceleration:
accelerate → acceleration
Both words begin with accel-.
Another useful reminder is:
Speed starts with ACCELERATE, not EXCELERATE.
Whenever you mean “make faster,” remember the ACC at the beginning.
American vs British English
There is no spelling difference between American and British English for accelerate.
Both varieties use:
accelerate ✅
And excelerate is not the standard spelling in either variety.
The word has the same basic meaning in both forms of English: to increase speed or cause something to happen more quickly.
Similar Words
Several words are related to accelerate, although their meanings are not always identical.
Speed Up
Speed up means to become faster or make something faster.
We need to speed up the process.
Hasten
Hasten means to make something happen sooner or more quickly.
They hastened the decision-making process.
Quicken
Quicken means to make something faster or increase its pace.
The rhythm began to quicken.
Expedite
Expedite means to make a process happen more quickly, especially by removing delays.
The company expedited the delivery.
Advance
Advance can mean to move forward or make progress.
The project is advancing quickly.
Increase
Increase means to become greater in amount, size, level, or degree.
The company increased production.
These words can overlap with accelerate, but the best choice depends on the specific context.
Final Verdict
The correct spelling is accelerate.
Excelerate is a misspelling and should not be used when you mean to increase speed or make something happen faster.
For example:
Correct: The company wants to accelerate growth.
Incorrect: The company wants to excelerate growth.
Remember the beginning of the word: ACCELERATE. If you mean “make faster,” choose accelerate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it excelerate or accelerate?
The correct spelling is accelerate. Excelerate is a misspelling.
What does accelerate mean?
Accelerate means to increase speed, make something move faster, or cause a process or change to happen more quickly.
Is excelerate a real word?
Excelerate is not the standard English spelling of the word meaning “to become faster.” The correct word is accelerate.
What is the noun form of accelerate?
The noun form is acceleration.
The car’s acceleration was rapid.
What is the difference between accelerate and excel?
Accelerate means to become faster or make something faster, while excel means to perform exceptionally well.
Is accelerate used in American English?
Yes. Accelerate is the standard spelling and usage in American English.
Is accelerate used in British English?
Yes. Accelerate is also the standard spelling in British English.
How do you remember the spelling of accelerate?
Remember the beginning ACC: ACCELERATE. The word related to increasing speed is spelled with acc-, not exc-.
Remember This
Accelerate = correct ✅
Excelerate = incorrect ❌
Remember:
ACCELERATE = make faster
Do not write:
The process will excelerate.
Write:
The process will accelerate.
A useful memory clue is ACC at the beginning of accelerate and acceleration.
Conclusion
The difference between excelerate or accelerate is mainly a spelling issue. Accelerate is the correct standard English word, while excelerate is a misspelling. Accelerate can describe physical speed, but it can also refer to faster growth, progress, development, production, or change.
To remember the correct spelling, focus on the beginning ACC in accelerate. Also, avoid confusing it with excel, which means to perform very well. Once you connect accelerate with speed and excel with exceptional performance, the distinction becomes much easier to remember.
