How does the unit used to measure acceleration actually work?

Question

The unit to measure speed is m/s which in a straightforward manner implies that x metres is covered per second however the unit for acceleration is m/s^2 which is kind of making it difficult to understand how it works..

I had this thought in the middle of a physics test and have been pondering ever since. Would be great if someone could eli5.

In: Physics

Answer 1

If velocity is distance change per time, or meters per second

Then acceleration is velocity change per time, or meters per second per second, or meters per second squared.