decelerate
verb
de·cel·er·ate
(ˌ)dē-ˈse-lə-ˌrāt 
decelerated; decelerating
1
: to reduce the speed of : slow down
decelerate a car
2
: to decrease the rate of progress of
decelerate growth
decelerate soil erosion
: to move at decreasing speed
Examples of decelerate in a Sentence
she decelerated the car as we entered the school zone
Recent Examples on the Web
Instead of having to make tiresome three-point turns in tight spots, the Mercedes can decelerate one electric motor at the inside rear wheel while overdriving the outside wheel.
—
IEEE Spectrum, 13 May 2024
Neither appears particularly athletic, but looks are deceiving: both have explosive first steps and an unmatched ability to decelerate.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 5 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for decelerate 
IEEE Spectrum, 13 May 2024
Neither appears particularly athletic, but looks are deceiving: both have explosive first steps and an unmatched ability to decelerate.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 5 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for decelerate
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'decelerate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near decelerate
Cite this Entry
“Decelerate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decelerate. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
decelerate
verb
de·cel·er·ate
(ˈ)dē-ˈsel-ə-ˌrāt
decelerated; decelerating
: to move or cause to move at decreasing speed : slow down
Medical Definition
decelerate
verb
de·cel·er·ate
(ˈ)dē-ˈsel-ə-ˌrāt
decelerated; decelerating
: to reduce the speed of : slow down
: to move at decreasing speed
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