(~er, ~est, ~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
Fast means happening, moving, or doing something at great speed. You also use ~ in questions or statements about speed.
...~ cars with flashing lights and sirens...
Brindley was known as a very, very ~ driver...
The party aims to attract votes from the business and professional communities, which want a ~er pace of political reform...
The only question is how ~ the process will be.
= quick
? slow
ADJ
•
Fast is also an adverb.
They work terrifically ~...
It would be nice to go ~er and break the world record...
Barnes also knows that he is ~ running out of time...
How ~ were you driving?...
How ~ would the disease develop?
= quickly
? slowly
ADV: ADV with v
2.
You use ~ to say that something happens without any delay.
When you’ve got a crisis like this you need professional help–~!...
We’d appreciate your leaving as ~ as possible.
= soon, swiftly
ADV: ADV after v
•
Fast is also an adjective.
That would be an astonishingly ~ action on the part of the Congress.
= swift
ADJ: ADJ n
3.
If a watch or clock is ~, it is showing a time that is later than the real time.
That clock’s an hour ~.
ADJ: v-link ADJ
4.
If you hold something ~, you hold it tightly and firmly. If something is stuck ~, it is stuck very firmly and cannot move.
She climbed the staircase cautiously, holding ~ to the rail...
The tanker is stuck ~ on the rocks.
= firmly
ADV: ADV after v
5.
If you hold ~ to a principle or idea, or if you stand ~, you do not change your mind about it, even though people are trying to persuade you to.
We can only try to hold ~ to the age-old values of honesty, decency and concern for others...
He told supporters to stand ~ over the next few vital days.
= firm
ADV: ADV after v
6.
If colours or dyes are ~, they do not come out of the fabrics they are used on when they get wet.
The fabric was ironed to make the colours ~.
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ
7.
If you ~, you eat no food for a period of time, usually for either religious or medical reasons, or as a protest.
I ~ed for a day and half and asked God to help me.
VERB: V
•
Fast is also a noun.
The ~ is broken at sunset, traditionally with dates and water.
N-COUNT
~ing
...the Muslim holy month of ~ing and prayer.
N-UNCOUNT
8.
Someone who is ~ asleep is completely asleep.
When he went upstairs five minutes later, she was ~ asleep.
PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v
9.
to make a ~ buck: see buck