- 1happening or done quickly or without delay synonym rapid We wish you a speedy recovery (= from an illness or injury). a speedy reply
- 2moving or working very quickly speedy computers Which Word?fast / quick / rapidThese adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:
fast ~ quick ~ rapid ~ car glance change train look growth runner reply increase pace decision decline lane way progress - Fast is used especially to describe a person or thing that moves or is able to move at great speed.
- Quick is more often used to describe something that is done in a short time or without delay.
- Rapid, swift, and speedy are more formal words.
- Rapid is most commonly used to describe the speed at which something changes. It is not used to describe the speed at which something moves or is done:a rapid train We had a rapid coffee.
- Swift usually describes something that happens or is done quickly and immediately:a swift decision The government took swift action.
- Speedy has a similar meaning:a speedy recovery. It is used less often to talk about the speed at which something moves:a speedy car
- For the use of fast and quick as adverbs, see the usage note at quick.
NAmE//ˈspidl̩i//
adverb All inquiries will be dealt with as speedily as possible.See speedy in the Oxford Advanced Learner's DictionaryCheck pronunciation: speedy