These words mean to move or cause to move faster. Quicken suggests greater animation in the performance of an action, as well as a shorter time required for its completion; it is close in sense to accelerate , which denotes an increase in the rate of movement, growth, progress, etc., of a thing.

• The dancers quickened their steps; Neglect has accelerated this building’s decay.

Speed differs from quicken and accelerate in that it always implies rapidity of movement: The car sped along the road; to speed production by providing better working conditions. Hasten indicates urgency or sometimes a sudden and premature result.

• The storm’s approach hastened our departure; as the time for the guest’s arrival approached, the housewife hastened her dinner preparations.

Hurry and rush are similar to hasten , but suggest in addition precipitate or confused motion.

• The late arrivals were hurried to their seats; The stricken man was rushed to a hospital.

Rush suggests greater urgency than hurry , and sometimes includes the notion of violent action: The suddenly rushed pell-mell out of the door. Expedite , more especially a business term than any of the other words of this group, means to process quickly, or give special attention to, in order to save time: The delivery of your new car will be expedited by a "rush " order. Expedite thus has a distant and formal tone that distinguishes it from emotionally charged words like rush and hurry .