hasten

Word parts

haste + -en

Pronunciation

• (UK) (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈheɪs.ən/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Hyphenation: has‧ten

Verb

Plain form hasten

Third-person singular hastens

Past tense hastened

Past participle hastened

Present participle hastening

1. If you hasten to do something, you try to do it very soon and very quickly.
   • Synonym: hurry

   After the play ended, she hastened to leave.

2. If you hasten an event, you try to make it happen very soon and very quickly.

   We've known for a long time that loneliness hastens death, but haven't been able to explain how.

Related words

• haste