rap ‧ id ‧ ly W3 /ˈræpədli, ˈræpɪdli/ BrE AmE adverb
very quickly and in a very short time:
The disease was spreading more rapidly than expected.
rapidly growing/changing/expanding etc
the rapidly changing world of technology
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THESAURUS
▪ quickly at a high speed or without taking much time:
The stream was flowing quite quickly.
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They quickly became friends.
▪ fast at a high speed – used especially when talking about how something moves:
You're driving too fast!
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He ran home as fast as he could.
▪ quick spoken quickly – used in exclamations or in comparatives:
Quick! There’s a mouse!
▪ swiftly written quickly:
The government acted swiftly.
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She was surprised that he agreed so swiftly.
▪ rapidly quickly – used especially about changes, increases, improvements etc:
The population is growing rapidly.
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a rapidly changing world
▪ speedily quickly and therefore efficiently:
All problems were speedily dealt with.
▪ briskly quickly and energetically:
He walked briskly back along the path.
▪ at high/great speed at a very fast speed – used especially in technical descriptions:
The molecules are travelling at great speed.
▪ at a rapid rate especially written quickly – used about changes, increases, improvements etc:
Internet shopping is growing at a rapid rate.
▪ as quick as a flash/in a flash extremely quickly:
As quick as a flash, I was back in my bed and under the covers.
▪ like lightning moving extremely quickly:
Like lightning, the cat darted under the bushes.
▪ flat out especially British English at the fastest speed possible:
The car was going flat out.
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He was running flat out.