hasten

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'hasten' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that is done quickly or urgently. For example: "The fire truck raced to the scene of the fire to hasten the rescue mission."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The appointment of James Purnell as Hain's successor served to hasten the reforms.

The Guardian - Opinion

These were the standout issues for me: Many people were frustrated with the two-party system, and at a conversation at McGowan's table a man said he had come to find out how to hasten its demise.

The Guardian

Analysts and diplomats say the Ostpolitik tradition remains strong but that Berlin is shifting and the Ukrainian crisis is likely to hasten the change.

The Guardian

She kept the title, adding: "But not, I hasten to add, cancer's bitch".

The Guardian

On 29 December Australia was one of only two nations to vote against a Jordanian draft resolution designed to hasten a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute.

The Guardian - Opinion

Instead of watching events unfold at the Stadio Olimpico this boyhood Roma fan who won the Coppa Italia with Lazio will be ingratiating himself into English footballing culture, a transition he has been attempting to hasten since his appointment as Leyton Orient manager in December.

The Guardian - Sport

I should hasten to add that the connection is purely political, and not really about the two women themselves but the reaction of their compatriots to news about them.

The Guardian - Opinion

Stir in the grated parmesan and season to taste, then leave to cool completely, preferably in the fridge – you can spread it out on a tray to hasten this if necessary.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Not literally, I hasten to add.

The Guardian - Sport

Although Mr Wahid can do little to prevent this, one false move could hasten his downfall.

The Economist

Masrour Barzani, the president's most powerful son, who runs the security council and the pervasive intelligence service, is also thought keen to hasten towards independence".The situation after Mosul is completely different," agrees Nechirvan Barzani, the prime minister (and the president's nephew).

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hasten" when you want to emphasize making something happen more quickly or to accelerate a process. It often implies a deliberate effort to speed things up, as in "reforms to hasten the process".

Common error

While "hasten" is a perfectly valid word, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. In less formal situations, consider using alternatives such as "speed up" or "hurry" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

"Hasten" primarily functions as a verb, indicating the act of accelerating or speeding up a process or event. Ludwig AI confirms this usage. Examples in Ludwig show it used to describe speeding up reforms, demise, and even cooling processes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

5%

Less common in

Lifestyle

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hasten" is a grammatically sound verb used to describe the act of accelerating or speeding up a process or event. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English, often found in neutral to formal contexts such as news articles and business documents. When aiming to accelerate an outcome, "hasten" is a solid choice. Be mindful of the alternatives like "speed up" or "hurry" when aiming for a more casual style. As seen by the abundant examples in Ludwig, "hasten" is a versatile and effective term for indicating acceleration across different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accelerate

Focuses on increasing the rate of movement or progress.

expedite

Emphasizes making a process more efficient and faster.

speed up

A more informal way of saying to make something go faster.

precipitate

Suggests causing something to happen suddenly or prematurely.

rush

Implies acting or moving with great haste.

hurry

Similar to "rush" but can also mean to urge someone to move faster.

quicken

Highlights making something faster or more alive.

advance

To cause to occur sooner than might have been expected.

push forward

Emphasizes effort to make something happen more quickly.

step up

Similar to "push forward" but more related to effort and action to reach results.

FAQs

How to use "hasten" in a sentence?

"Hasten" is a verb that means to accelerate or speed up something. For example, "The new policies are designed to "hasten" economic recovery".

What can I say instead of "hasten"?

You can use alternatives like "accelerate", "expedite", or "speed up" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "hasten" or "hurry"?

Both "hasten" and "hurry" imply speeding something up, but "hasten" is generally more formal. Use "hurry" in casual contexts and ""hasten"" in more formal or technical writing.

What's the difference between "hasten" and "precipitate"?

"Hasten" means to accelerate, while "precipitate" means to cause something to happen suddenly or prematurely. "Precipitate" often carries a connotation of unexpectedness or even recklessness.