I. swift 1 /swɪft/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Language: Old English ]
1 . happening or done quickly and immediately:
My letter received a swift reply.
She shot a swift glance at Paul.
swift to do something
They were swift to deny the accusations.
2 . [only before noun] moving, or able to move, very fast:
a swift runner
She wiped her tears away in one swift movement.
3 . somebody is not too swift American English spoken used to say that someone is not very intelligent
—swiftly adverb :
Alice dressed swiftly.
—swiftness noun [uncountable]
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THESAURUS
▪ fast moving or able to move quickly:
The cheetah is the fastest animal in the world.
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a fast car
▪ quick moving fast or doing something in a short time:
He was much quicker than I was over the first 100 metres.
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Do I have time for a quick shower?
▪ high-speed [only before noun] designed to travel or operate very quickly:
a high-speed train
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high-speed Internet access
▪ rapid especially written happening in a short period of time – used about changes, increases, improvements etc:
a rapid increase in the population
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the rapid expansion of the firm’s business in the Middle East
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a rapid decline in profits
▪ swift written moving quickly or happening after only a short time:
The horses ran along the track at a swift trot.
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He received a swift response to his letter.
▪ brisk quick and energetic:
a brisk walk in the countryside
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His manner was very brisk.
▪ speedy [only before noun] happening after only a short time:
Everyone wishes you a speedy recovery.
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a speedy resolution to the problem
▪ hurried done more quickly that usual, because you do not have much time:
She ate a hurried breakfast in the cafe before catching her train.
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We made a hurried departure.
▪ hasty deciding or doing something very quickly, especially when this has bad results:
It was a hasty decision, which he later regretted.
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Let’s not be too hasty.
II. swift 2 BrE AmE noun [countable]
a small brown bird that has pointed wings, flies very fast, and is similar to a ↑ swallow