Synonyms: Fast

Quick! How many synonyms for "fast" do you know? These words describe everything from a scurrying mouse to an interstellar spacecraft. Don't delay, learn them all! For more synonym lists, explore our Say What You Mean resources.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. abrupt
    exceedingly sudden and unexpected
    As he turned onto Main Street, he brought the sled to an abrupt halt. Stone Fox
    Abrupt is very close to sudden: something surprising that happens quickly.
  2. apace
    rapidly; in a speedy manner
    The onslaught of comic book characters invading TV continues apace this winter. New York Times (Jan 6, 2017)
    Apace is a shortened form of at a pace, meaning "with speed." Pace originated in the Latin passus, meaning "step."
  3. brisk
    quick and energetic
    His Christmas dinner was gone in three bites, and dessert was skipped in favor of a brisk two-mile run. Me Talk Pretty One Day
  4. cursory
    hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough
    After a cursory glance she threw up her paws in mock despair. Redwall
    If you give a magazine article a cursory look, you're just skimming it quickly without really reading it. That makes sense, because cursorem means "runner" in Latin.
  5. expedite
    process fast and efficiently
    Global Entry is the gold standard for expedited reentry into the United States. Washington Post (Sep 2, 2020)
  6. express
    without unnecessary stops
    Xenocrates went to the express elevator, not trusting his security detail to handle the situation down below. Scythe
  7. fleet
    moving very fast
    Running on fleet, silent feet down the Street of the Crooked Dog, he felt frightened but jubilant. The Golden Goblet
    Fleet means "fast." It comes from the Old Norse fliótr, meaning "swift."
  8. fleeting
    lasting for a markedly brief time
    Nothing moved but himself, his shadow, and his fleeting reflection in shop windows he passed. The City of Ember
    Fleeting describes something that's gone in an instant.
  9. hasty
    excessively quick
    They all ate rather hurriedly and then, after a hasty chorus of “Happy Birthday” and much gulping of cake, the party broke up. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
    To be hasty is to be in a hurry, moving as fast as you can.
  10. instantaneous
    occurring with no delay
    The clean torque of an electric engine, both whisper-quiet and instantaneous, is addictive. New York Times (Nov 20, 2017)
  11. meteoric
    like a shooting star in speed, brilliance, briefness
    Who knows, maybe it will be the start of my meteoric rise to stardom! The Misfits
  12. nimble
    moving quickly and lightly
    Otto’s nimble fingers handled the camera with ease, aiming and snapping a photo. The Last Last-Day-of-Summer
  13. rapid
    characterized by speed
    Matt was dazed by the rapid change in his fortunes. The House of the Scorpion
    Rapid is very close to swift in meaning: quick, but not lightning fast.
  14. suddenly
    quickly and without warning
    The uncle suddenly appeared at the front door. Killers of the Flower Moon
    Something unexpected that happens very fast, even instantly, is sudden.
  15. swift
    moving very fast
    A swift current grabs the tube and sweeps it into the river. Enrique's Journey
  16. velocity
    distance traveled per unit time in one direction
    "We are within one meter of projected path and two centimeters per second of projected velocity." The Martian
    Velocity is a synonym for speed, and the term used in physics to describe rate of motion.
Created on Fri Feb 28 22:37:47 EST 2020 (updated Mon Mar 22 17:38:06 EDT 2021)

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