fast 1 of 4

adverb

Definition of fastnext
1
as in quickly
with great speed run as fast as you can to get help

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2
as in quite
to a full extent or degree everyone in camp was fast asleep within minutes of hitting the sack

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fast

2 of 4

adjective

ˈfast How to pronounce fast (audio)
1
as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed the fast pace of construction resulted in our new house being done ahead of schedule

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2
as in loyal
firm in one's allegiance to someone or something the two girls soon became fast and inseparable friends

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3
as in tight
firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge the rusty, old screws are so fast in the fitting that there's no hope of getting them out

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4
as in deceptive
given to or marked by cheating and deception rolling back odometers was just one of the fast practices that the used-car dealer was guilty of

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in sturdy
marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion as the storm approached, we checked to see that every thing on the outside of the house was fast and locked in position

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6
as in short
not lasting for a considerable time after a fast explanation of the procedure, we were turned loose to do the work

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7
as in quick
having or showing quickness of mind I don't know how to operate this machine, but I'm a fast learner

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fast

3 of 4

noun

as in famine

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Dissimilar Words

fast

4 of 4

verb

as in to diet

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Dissimilar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fast contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of fast are expeditious, fleet, hasty, quick, rapid, speedy, and swift. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves.

fast horses

When can expeditious be used instead of fast?

The words expeditious and fast are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment.

the expeditious handling of an order

When is it sensible to use fleet instead of fast?

While the synonyms fleet and fast are close in meaning, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

In what contexts can hasty take the place of fast?

Although the words hasty and fast have much in common, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

When would quick be a good substitute for fast?

In some situations, the words quick and fast are roughly equivalent. However, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

When might rapid be a better fit than fast?

The meanings of rapid and fast largely overlap; however, rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.

rapid current

When is speedy a more appropriate choice than fast?

The words speedy and fast can be used in similar contexts, but speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

When could swift be used to replace fast?

While in some cases nearly identical to fast, swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.

returned the ball with one swift stroke

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fast
Adverb
Across the field from the Salvation Army’s giveaway, Gary residents waited in a winding but fast-moving line toward the many tents set up by local restaurants and businesses that were serving families for free. — Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 The company also says distressed callers got their calls answered up to 40 seconds faster on average. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Adjective
And although, as a survey-style telescope, Roman boasts a wider, faster view of the sky than either Hubble or JWST, McEnery emphasized that doesn’t make these more focused missions obsolete. — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2026 My team’s recent research on California blackworms suggests that, sometimes, such narrower paths are faster. — K. R. Prathyusha, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Noun
The dual mode 4K OLED supports a fairly high 165Hz refresh rate but can dip down to 1920 x 1080 resolution to output a super fast 330Hz for specialized uses like competitive gaming. — Antonio G. Di Benedetto, The Verge, 23 June 2026 The fast will coincide with the United States’ semiquincentennial celebrations. — Benjamin Park, The Conversation, 1 June 2026
Verb
Artificial intelligence is moving fast — so fast that old questions about whether AI should be licensed to practice medicine, in whole or in part, have become pressing ones. — Humayun Chaudhry, STAT, 3 Aug. 2026 The only difference is how long or fast your unit has to work in order to reach that temperature. — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for fast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fast
  1. quickly
  2. quite
  3. rapid
  4. loyal
  5. tight
  6. deceptive
  7. sturdy
  8. short
Adverb
  • Some come so quickly that there’s barely time to process how they were accomplished.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Besides faulty lactose digestion, nonwhite bodies were accused of other failures, too, such as aldehyde dehydrogenase deficiency, an inability to digest alcohol quickly.
    — Hilary Smith, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of quickly
Adverb
  • It's been quite a disappointing year for home shoppers who waited since 2023 for rates to cool off.
    — Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • However, the approach is marred by low throughput, and the process is also quite complex to execute.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of quite
Adjective
  • Fire officials said the combination of dry brush and strong winds fueled the blaze's rapid growth.
    — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The quarterback struggles in camp bring into the realm of possibility Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan seeking an outside backup option off the waiver wire following roster cuts if Ewers doesn’t show rapid improvement.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of rapid
Adjective
  • But its higher average viewership suggests it is watched consistently by a smaller and more loyal audience.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Intelligence officers loyal to the army, known as the Sudanese Armed Forces, charged him with spreading fake news.
    — Mat Nashed, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of loyal
Adjective
  • Dow stood with three tattooed and shirtless jumpers, weaving white paracord through hooks in the canvas and cinching it tight.
    — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Given the tight timeframe before the election, Sher is seeking both temporary relief and an interim injunction in the petition to ensure eligible citizens are not disenfranchised while bureaucratic procedures are reviewed.
    — Natasha Mozgovaya, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of tight
Adjective
  • Meta will be subject to an injunction prohibiting it from making further false, misleading, or deceptive statements around its safety features.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The agency has said deceptive or unfair data practices can violate existing consumer protection laws.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • Natural and lab-grown diamonds are sturdy enough to hold up to everyday wear, with gems like sapphire and moissanite right behind them.
    — Larissa Ratschkowski, Glamour, 30 Aug. 2026
  • These sturdy and reliable machines are great for both knocking out homework and streaming Netflix, with a big 24-inch FHD monitor that boasts good brightness and wide viewing angles.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of sturdy
Adjective
  • West Suburban closed in March, after the hospital’s CEO said problems with the billing systems left the hospital short on cash.
    — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Messages of greater than 100 words were more likely to receive a quick reply than short messages of 4-25 words.
    — Paul Hsieh, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of short

Browse Nearby Words

fashions
fast
fastback
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Cite this Entry

“Fast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fast. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fast

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fast

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