hasten

verb

has·​ten ˈhā-sᵊn How to pronounce hasten (audio)
hastened; hastening ˈhās-niŋ How to pronounce hasten (audio)
ˈhā-sᵊn-iŋ

intransitive verb

: to move or act quickly
She hastened up the stairs.

transitive verb

1
: to encourage to move or act quickly : to urge on
hastened her to the doorA. J. Cronin
2
: to cause to happen more quickly : accelerate
His death was hastened by alcoholism.
hasten the coming of a new orderD. W. Brogan
hastener
ˈhās-nər How to pronounce hasten (audio)
ˈhā-sᵊn-ər
noun

Examples of hasten in a Sentence

His death was hastened by alcohol abuse. hasten the activation of yeast with heat
Recent Examples on the Web The oil embargoes of the 1970s only hastened the pace of change: Auto steel now had to be both stronger and lighter, requiring less fuel to push around. John Johnson Jr., Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Aug. 2024 As with previous platform shifts in tech, though, the AI wave could crown new winners and drown current leaders. CEOs hastened to reassure investors that the best is yet to come, and that their incumbent firms are well-positioned to control the future. Scott Rosenberg, Axios, 2 Aug. 2024 Kalwa said that the energy consumption of data centers is hastening the need for the MPRP. Gary Collins, Baltimore Sun, 1 Aug. 2024 Like many international film festivals, DIFF is still reckoning with the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, which hastened the already-shifting consumption habits of audiences amid the rise of global streaming services. Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 19 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for hasten 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hasten.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see haste entry 1

First Known Use

1568, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of hasten was in 1568

Cite this Entry

“Hasten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hasten. Accessed 27 Aug. 2024.

Kids Definition

hasten

verb
has·​ten ˈhā-sᵊn How to pronounce hasten (audio)
hastened; hastening ˈhās-niŋ How to pronounce hasten (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
1
: to urge on
2
: to speed up : accelerate
hastened my steps
3
: to move or act quickly : hurry
hastener
ˈhās-nər How to pronounce hasten (audio)
-ᵊn-ər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on hasten

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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