INDEX:
1. moving or travelling fast
2. fast cars/planes/trains
3. doing things quickly or happening quickly
4. to move very fast in a particular direction
5. to move or work faster
6. to move as fast as someone else
7. to move faster than someone or something else
8. a course of study that you do quickly
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ SLOW
see also
↑ SPEED
↑ HURRY
↑ RUN
↑ TIME
◆◆◆
1. moving or travelling fast
▷ fast /fɑːstǁfæst/ [adverb]
▪ Don’t drive so fast - there’s ice on the road.
▪ The new fighter aircraft flies almost twice as fast as the old one.
▪ She walked faster and faster, then started to run.
as fast as you can
▪ He ran home as fast as he could.
fast [adjective]
able to go fast: :
▪ When I was a kid, I was the fastest boy in my class.
▷ quick /kwɪk/ [adverb] spoken
use this to tell someone to come or go somewhere quickly :
▪ Come quick, your brother’s on TV.
▪ You’ll have to walk quicker than that if you want to keep up with me.
▷ swift /swɪft/ [adjective] written
moving fast with a continuous, flowing movement - used especially in literature :
▪ The horses ran along the track at a swift trot.
▪ We had to steer our ship through the swift currents of the Bering Straits.
swiftly [adverb]
▪ White clumps of cloud were moving swiftly across the sky.
swiftness [uncountable noun]
▪ These animals are unrivalled for their grace and swiftness.
▷ at high speed /ət ˌhaɪ ˈspiːd/ [adverb]
moving or working very fast - use this about cars, trains, machines etc :
▪ Two cars raced past him at high speed.
▪ a metal disk revolving at high speed
high-speed [adjective]
▪ You can travel by high-speed train from Paris to Brussels.
▪ a high-speed drill
▷ at top speed /ət ˌtɒp ˈspiːdǁ-ˌtɑːp-/ [adverb]
if a vehicle moves at top speed, it moves as fast as it can go - use this especially when a situation is urgent and someone has to get somewhere very fast :
▪ They headed east at top speed in pursuit of the enemy ship.
▪ At top speed, the Pave Hawk helicopter can travel 221 miles per hour.
▷ at breakneck speed /ət ˌbreɪknek ˈspiːd/ [adverb]
travelling dangerously fast :
▪ It took us an hour to get there, driving at breakneck speed.
▪ Jenny stepped onto her skis and sped off at breakneck speed down the glistening, white mountain.
▷ flat out /ˌflæt ˈaʊt/ [adverb]
at the fastest speed possible when using all the strength or power there is :
▪ Going flat out, the BMW 325 will reach a speed of 140 miles per hour.
▪ The exercise involved running flat out for two minutes and then resting for one minute.
▷ like lightning /laɪk ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/ [adverb]
moving extremely fast, often with a single sudden movement :
▪ Somewhere a dog barked and, like lightning, the cat darted into some bushes.
▪ Her foot slipped on the smooth tiles but Mitch moved like lightning and caught her before she fell.
▷ at speed /ət ˈspiːd/ [adverb] formal
if a car or train is travelling at speed, it is travelling fast :
▪ The train was already travelling at speed when she tried to open the carriage door.
2. fast cars/planes/trains
▷ fast /fɑːstǁfæst/ [adjective]
▪ Dean always loved fast cars and expensive clothes.
▪ Rosa caught the fast train to London.
▪ Boeing’s new plane is faster and more luxurious than anything else they have ever produced.
▷ high-speed /ˌhaɪ ˈspiːd◂/ [adjective only before noun]
high-speed train/computer/drill etc
a train, computer etc that moves or operates very fast :
▪ The era of high-speed jet travel began after the end of World War II.
▪ Journey times have been reduced considerably since the introduction of high-speed trains.
▷ supersonic /ˌsuːpəˈsɒnɪk◂, ˌsjuː-ǁˌsuːpərˈsɑː-/ [adjective usually before noun]
supersonic aircraft/travel/flight etc
faster than the speed of sound :
▪ Concorde is capable of travelling at supersonic speeds.
▪ Thanks to supersonic travel, busy executives can attend meetings in New York and be back in London the same day.
3. doing things quickly or happening quickly
▷ quickly /ˈkwɪkli/ [adverb]
doing things quickly or happening quickly, without taking much time :
▪ She undressed quickly and got into bed.
▪ It’s important to realize how quickly this disease can spread.
▪ Quickly fry the onions, then add the meat.
▷ quick /kwɪk/ [adjective]
a quick movement or action is one that you do quickly or one that only takes a short time :
▪ I’ll just take a quick shower.
▪ That was quick -- have you finished already?
▪ I had to make a quick decision.
be quick
use this when you are telling someone to hurry
▪ You’ll have to be quick - we don’t have much time.
▷ fast /fɑːstǁfæst/ [adverb]
if you work, talk, or write fast, you do it quickly :
▪ Don’t talk so fast - I can’t understand what you’re saying.
▪ We’re working as fast as we can.
▷ rapid /ˈræpɪd, ˈræpəd/ [adjective usually before noun]
a rapid change, increase, or improvement is one that happens much more quickly than usual :
▪ a rapid increase in the population
▪ She made a rapid recovery after her operation.
▪ Adolescence is a period of great and rapid change.
rapidly [adverb]
▪ the rapidly changing world of computer technology
▷ swift /swɪft/ [adjective]
happening or done very quickly and without any delay :
▪ Punishment of the protesters was swift and severe.
▪ Swift fashion changes mean that the shop has to change its stock every six to eight weeks.
▷ speedy /ˈspiːdi/ [adjective only before noun]
a speedy return, reply, reaction, etc is one that is done or made successfully, as quickly and efficiently as possible :
▪ We are working to ensure the safe and speedy return of all the refugees to their homes.
▪ Thousands of letters and telegrams arrived wishing Nikolai a speedy recovery from his surgery.
speedily [adverb]
▪ The mayor’s proposal was speedily approved by the town council.
▷ prompt /prɒmptǁprɑːmpt/ [adjective usually before noun]
a prompt action, reply, delivery etc is one that is done without delay because quick action is needed :
▪ A major disaster was prevented by the prompt action of the safety officer.
▪ It is important to ensure prompt delivery of goods that customers order.
promptly [adverb]
▪ Store the shellfish in a covered container and refrigerate them promptly.
▷ meteoric /ˌmiːtiˈɒrɪk◂ǁ-ˈɔːrɪk◂, -ˈɑːrɪk◂/ [adjective]
meteoric rise/career
achieving success extremely quickly and suddenly :
▪ The film tells the story of Lee’s meteoric rise from North Dakota radio singer to jazz legend.
▷ at an alarming rate /ət ən əˌlɑːʳmɪŋ ˈreɪt/ [adverb]
if something happens at an alarming rate, it happens so quickly that it makes people very worried :
▪ The Amazonian rainforest is disappearing at an alarming rate.
▪ The number of people dying from lung cancer has increased at an alarming rate.
▷ in a flash /ɪn ə ˈflæʃ/ [adverb]
use this to say that something happens extremely quickly and suddenly, so that you almost do not notice what is happening :
▪ He was gone in a flash.
▪ In a flash Atticus was up and standing over him.
▪ Joel slipped but was on his feet in a flash.
4. to move very fast in a particular direction
▷ race/tear /reɪs, teəʳ/ [intransitive verb]
to go somewhere as fast as you can :
race back/up/into etc
▪ Hearing the children’s screams, she raced back to the house.
▪ A police car came racing down the road.
tear away/up/across etc
▪ She tore across the lobby, then up three flights of stairs.
▪ Just before the explosion, a man came tearing across the street.
▷ rush/dash /rʌʃ, dæʃ/ [intransitive verb]
to go somewhere very quickly because you are in a hurry :
rush out/around/into etc
▪ Everyone rushed out into the street to see what was happening.
▪ People were rushing past me on their way to work.
dash into/around/to etc
▪ Pam dashed into the store just as it was closing.
▪ The boys dashed across the road and disappeared into the woods.
▷ fly /flaɪ/ [intransitive verb]
to travel or go somewhere extremely quickly :
fly past/up/along etc
▪ As I slowed down another car flew past me and turned to the left.
▪ The bus was flying along when suddenly the driver slammed on the brakes.
▷ dart /dɑːʳt/ [intransitive verb]
to run, fly, or swim with a sudden quick movement :
dart through/back/across etc
▪ I could see small silvery fish darting through the water.
▪ As the rain began to fall harder, I darted into the first shop I could find.
▷ streak /striːk/ [intransitive verb] written
if someone or something streaks somewhere, they run or fly there so fast that you can hardly see them :
streak across/past/away etc
▪ Two aircraft streaked across the sky.
▪ I caught a glimpse of a man streaking away into the shadows.
▷ whizz /wɪz/ [intransitive verb]
to move extremely quickly through the air or along a road, making a loud high noise :
whizz past/by/through etc
▪ A bullet whizzed past my ear.
▪ I stared out the window, watching as kids on bicycles and skateboards whizzed by.
▷ zoom /zuːm/ [intransitive verb]
if a car, bus, plane etc zooms somewhere, it moves there extremely fast, making a loud noise with its engine :
zoom past/through/over etc
▪ The plane zoomed low over the airfield.
▪ A fire engine zoomed past us.
▷ speed /spiːd/ [intransitive verb]
to move somewhere very quickly, especially in a vehicle :
speed along/by/towards etc
▪ An ambulance sped by on its way to an accident.
▪ Small patrol boats sped along the shore.
▷ be really moving /biː ˌrɪəli ˈmuːvɪŋ/ [verb phrase]
use this to say that someone or something is going extremely fast :
▪ That car must have been really moving when it hit the van.
5. to move or work faster
▷ go faster /ˌgəʊ ˈfɑːstəʳǁ-ˈfæs-/ [verb phrase]
▪ Could you go a little faster? We don’t want to miss our plane.
move/work etc faster
▪ You’ll have to work a lot faster than this.
faster and faster
more and more quickly
▪ I could feel my heart beating faster and faster.
▷ speed up /ˌspiːd ˈʌp/ [intransitive/transitive phrasal verb]
to make something happen more quickly :
▪ Nancy, if you don’t speed up we’ll be here until midnight.
speed something up
▪ I’ll phone the manager and get them to speed things up.
speed up something
▪ The company announced they’re speeding up plans to expand the site.
▷ pick up/gather speed /ˌpɪk ʌp, ˌgæðəʳ ˈspiːd/ [verb phrase]
if a vehicle, especially a large vehicle picks up speed or gathers speed, it starts to gradually move faster :
▪ Francis leaned back in his seat as the plane picked up speed.
▪ The truck was already moving, gathering speed with a deep-throated roar.
▷ accelerate /əkˈseləreɪt/ [intransitive verb]
if a vehicle or driver accelerates, they go faster, especially suddenly :
▪ The Ferrari Mondial can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds.
▪ The truck’s wheels skidded on the snow as the driver accelerated forward.
▷ quicken your pace /ˌkwɪkən jɔːʳ ˈpeɪs/ [verb phrase] written
to begin to walk faster - use this especially in stories or descriptions of events :
▪ Suddenly realizing he was late, he quickened his pace towards the hotel.
▪ ‘I have some questions to ask you, Mr Murray,’ said the reporter, quickening his pace to keep up with me.
▷ gain/gather momentum /ˌgeɪn, ˌgæðəʳ məʊˈmentəm/ [verb phrase]
if something gains or gathers momentum, it travels faster and faster, especially going down a hill, because it is pushed forward by the force of its own weight :
▪ Gradually the train gathered momentum, and within seconds it was moving at top speed.
▪ The slope was getting steeper and their sledge was gaining momentum all the time.
6. to move as fast as someone else
▷ catch up /ˌkætʃ ˈʌp/ [intransitive/transitive phrasal verb]
to move forward fast enough to reach someone who was in front of you going in the same direction :
▪ We need to start cycling faster or we’ll never catch up.
catch up with
▪ Go on ahead. I’ll catch up with you later.
▪ The police car caught up with the stolen van after a long chase.
▷ be gaining on /biː ˈgeɪnɪŋ ɒn somebody/ [verb phrase]
to be getting closer and closer to someone that you are chasing or trying to pass, because you are moving faster than they are :
▪ Run faster -- they’re gaining on us!
▪ Seeing the van was gaining on him, he turned suddenly onto a dirt road.
▷ keep up /ˌkiːp ˈʌp/ [intransitive phrasal verb]
to succeed in moving as fast as someone else, when they are moving very quickly :
▪ Maggie had a stone in her shoe and was finding it hard to keep up.
keep up with
▪ Slow down! I can’t keep up with you.
▪ She had difficulty keeping up with J.D.'s long, quick strides.
7. to move faster than someone or something else
▷ pull ahead /ˌpʊl əˈhed/ [intransitive phrasal verb]
to pass another vehicle on the road and move in front of it because you are going faster :
▪ I turned around and saw that, out of the dust and the crowd, another car was pulling ahead to join us.
pull ahead of
▪ With the finish line in sight, Wallace pulled ahead of the pack and drove to victory.
▷ leave somebody behind /ˌliːv somebody bɪˈhaɪnd/ [transitive phrasal verb]
to move far in front of someone who cannot run, walk, drive etc as fast as you :
▪ We were all running to catch the bus, but the others had longer legs and gradually left me behind.
leave somebody way behind
a long way behind
▪ Dinah urged her horse on until she had left all the other riders way behind.
▷ leave somebody standing /ˌliːv somebody ˈstændɪŋ/ [verb phrase] informal
to move very far in front of someone, especially in a race, because you are much faster than them :
▪ Collins accelerated around the final turn and left the other runners standing.
8. a course of study that you do quickly
▷ rapid /ˈræpɪd, ˈræpəd/ [adjective only before noun]
▪ The college offers a rapid programme of training for librarians.
▪ Rapid learning: Learn to speak a new language in 12 weeks!
▷ intensive /ɪnˈtensɪv/ [adjective]
an intensive course of study is one in which you are taught a lot in a short time :
▪ Before moving to Paris, Michael went on an intensive course to improve his French.
▪ After a brief period of intensive training, I was allowed to make my first parachute jump.
▷ crash course /ˈkræʃ kɔːʳs/ [countable noun]
a course of study in which you learn a particular skill in a very short time in order to prepare yourself for a job :
crash course in
▪ We offer crash courses in word processing.
crash course
▪ Students lacking math and science skills take a seven-week crash course during the summer.