hasten

verb

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

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
ˈhā-sᵊn-ər How to pronounce hasten (audio)
ˈhās-nər
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Teammate Fernando Clavijo hastened his growth on defense. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025 These dust-heavy clouds then disappear more quickly and leave more Arctic ice exposed, hastening the melt. Tom Brown, Space.com, 16 Mar. 2025 In a statement Tuesday night released through a spokesperson working on the case with Khalil’s lawyers, Khalil's wife, who was not named, detailed the arrest and asked supporters to continue their pressure campaign to hasten a possible release as the couple is expecting a child in April. Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 11 Mar. 2025 Public transportation in a metropolis was a reliable way to hasten the end of childhood. Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hasten

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 10 Apr. 2025.

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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