hasten

5 definitions • 8 examples

to make something happen sooner or more quickly:

There is little doubt that poor medical treatment hastened her death.

These recent poor results have hastened the manager's departure.

If you hasten to do something, you quickly do it:

The president hastened to reassure his people that he was in perfect health.

If you hasten somewhere, you go there quickly:

Reporters hastened from the press conference to call their editors.

From her office on the first floor, she hastened upstairs to speak to her boss.

to emphasize that you want to make something clear:

This was my own money that I was using, I hasten to add.

to hurry, or to make something go or happen faster:

[ + to infinitive ] They didn’t get what they were after – thanks to you, I hasten to add.

[ T ] To hasten softening, place the cream cheese in the oven for a few minutes.