Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

I came across the street to meet you

I came across an old photo while cleaning the attic

The bridge came across the river

Which sentence uses 'come across' correctly?

She comes across as very confident in interviews

He came across the finish line first

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

The bus will come by this route

Good jobs are hard to come by these days

I come by the office every morning at 8

Which sentence uses 'come by' correctly?

Can you come by my house later for coffee?

The train came by the station too fast

She comes by the grocery store home

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The new iPhone will come out next month

I need to come out from the house now

The new iPhone will come out next month

Which sentence uses 'come out' correctly?

The truth finally came out after the investigation

The students came out to the classroom

Explore 'Speed Up': Definitions & Examples

📖 Definition

To speed up means to increase the pace or rate of a process or movement. It can refer to tangible actions, such as accelerating a vehicle, or metaphorical actions, such as quickening decision-making.

Examples in context

The chef decided to speed up the cooking process by using a pressure cooker.
We need to speed up the approval process to meet client demands.
During rush hour, the bus driver abruptly sped up to keep on schedule.

📖 Definition

To speed up means to increase the pace or rate of a process or movement. It can refer to tangible actions, such as accelerating a vehicle, or metaphorical actions, such as quickening decision-making.

📝 Grammar Info

Separable

Yes

The object can come between 'speed' and 'up'.

Neutral

Used in both formal and informal contexts.

Transitive

Yes

Can take a direct object.

📊 Conjugation Table

Tense	Form	Example
Present Simple	speed up	They always speed up when they see the finish line.
Past Simple	sped up	The car sped up as it approached the highway.
Present Continuous	speeding up	The team is speeding up their project timeline.
Present Perfect	have sped up	The developers have sped up the software's processing time.

💡 When to Use

When conveying urgency

Use 'speed up' to indicate an increase in pace due to time constraints or urgent needs.

Example: "We need to speed up our response to meet the deadline."

In technological settings

Employ it when processes are made faster through technological advancements or improvements.

Example: "The new system will speed up data processing significantly."

Describing transport

Use it when vehicles increase their pace, either due to driver intent or external factors.

Example: "The train began to speed up as it left the station."

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Incorrect separability

❌ Wrong: Can you up speed the process?

✅ Correct: Can you speed up the process?

💡 Tip: Remember that 'speed up' is separable, but not mandatory.

Incorrect tense usage

❌ Wrong: He speed up too late.

✅ Correct: He sped up too late.

💡 Tip: Past tense of 'speed' is 'sped'.

Misuse in non-transitive contexts

❌ Wrong: The weather speed up abruptly.

✅ Correct: The weather changed abruptly.

💡 Tip: 'Speed up' usually requires an object or clear context.

Practice

SPEED UP - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Listen and repeat the audio as many times as needed to improve your pronunciation
Use the audio as a dictation exercise, trying to write what you hear and understand
Create a new sentence following the structure of the example sentences

Examples in Context

1
Listen to example

The chef decided to speed up the cooking process by using a pressure cooker.
How National Parks Came to Be
2
Listen to example

We need to speed up the approval process to meet client demands.
How to Become a Hiker
3
Listen to example

During rush hour, the bus driver abruptly sped up to keep on schedule.
Bringing Animals Back to Life

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

accelerate quicken

Antonyms

slow down

Quick Check

Complete the sentence with the correct phrasal verb:

"They decided to ___ the production to meet the holiday demand."

hasten up

speed up

lift up

raise up

"To speed up hastily is often to overlook the beauty in the journey and the wisdom learned along the way."

In Context

During the Industrial Revolution, British inventor James Watt played a crucial role in transforming manufacturing with his improved steam engine design. In the late 1760s, Watt noticed that existing steam engines were inefficient and aimed to speed up their operations. By adding a separate condenser, he was able to significantly speed up the steam engine’s function. His invention soon began to speed up the pace of industrialization by enabling more efficient production in factories. As factories embraced Watt's steam engines, industries like textiles and iron saw rapid growth. The need to speed up productions meant employing more workers and building more infrastructure, which further accelerated urbanization. Watt's partnership with Matthew Boulton allowed them to mass-produce and distribute these engines across Britain, forever changing the landscape of industrial work. By the early 1800s, their steam engines had spread to the Americas and beyond, symbolizing the spreading speed of technological evolution. However, despite his success, Watt remained reflective about the implications of his work. He often mused on how the drive to speed up production had societal costs, including labor exploitation and environmental challenges. His legacy lives on as a reminder of industrial progress and its complex consequences, ensuring that humanity considers both the benefits and costs of technological acceleration.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Speed Up

What is the origin of speed up?

The phrase 'speed up' originates from the word 'speed,' which comes from Old English 'spēdan', meaning success or prosperity. It evolved to mean accelerating an action in the mid-19th century when industrial advancements necessitated quicker processes.

Can speed up be used in formal and informal contexts?

Yes, 'speed up' is a versatile phrasal verb suitable for formal and informal contexts. It is commonly used in business, academic, and everyday settings to describe increased pace or efficiency of actions or processes.

What is the difference between speed up and accelerate?

While both 'speed up' and 'accelerate' involve increasing pace, 'speed up' is more casual and often used in everyday speech. 'Accelerate' is more formal and technical, frequently appearing in scientific, mechanical, or structured contexts.

Browse All National Parks Phrasal Verbs

About the Author

Alessandra Nóbrega

History teacher who fell in love with English! This passion led me to specialize in languages and work on bilingual education projects. With 37 years in education, I believe learning should be meaningful – not just memorization.

Learn more about my journey

📖 Definition

📖 Definition

📝 Grammar Info

📊 Conjugation Table

💡 When to Use

⚠️ Common Mistakes

SPEED UP - IN PRACTICE

Study Method Proposal

Examples in Context

Synonyms & Antonyms

Quick Check

In Context

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Speed Up

Related Phrasal Verbs

Alessandra Nóbrega