fast

¹fast

adjective \ˈfast\

Definition of FAST

1

a : firmly fixed <roots fast in the ground>

b : tightly shut <the drawers were fast>

c : adhering firmly

d : not easily freed : stuck <a ball fast in the mouth of the cannon>

e : stable <movable items were made fast to the deck>

2

: firmly loyal <became fast friends>

3

a : characterized by quick motion, operation, or effect: (1) : moving or able to move rapidly : swift (2) : taking a comparatively short time (3) : imparting quickness of motion <a fast bowler> (4) : accomplished quickly (5) : agile of mind; especially : quick to learn <a class for fast students>

b : conducive to rapidity of play or action

c (1) of a timepiece or weighing device : indicating in advance of what is correct (2) : according to or being daylight saving time

d : contributing to a shortening of exposure time <fast film>

e : acquired with unusually little effort and often by shady or dishonest methods <had a keen eye for a fast buck — R. A. Keith>

4

a : securely attached <a rope fast to the wharf>

b : tenacious <a fast hold on her purse>

5

a archaic : sound asleep

b of sleep : not easily disturbed

6

: not fading or changing color readily

7

a : wild <a pretty fast crowd>

b : sexually promiscuous

8

: resistant to change (as from destructive action or fading) <fast dyes> —often used in combination <sunfast> <acid-fast bacteria>

Examples of FAST

1. She's a very fast runner.
2. We're off to a fast start.
3. We're now experiencing a faster rate of inflation.
4. We took the faster route.

Origin of FAST

Middle English, from Old English fæst; akin to Old High German festi firm, Old Norse fastr, Armenian hast

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to FAST

Synonyms

blistering, breakneck, breathless, brisk, dizzy, fleet, fleet-footed, flying, galloping, hasty, hot, lightning, nippy, quick, rapid, rapid-fire, rattling, snappy, speedy, splitting, swift, whirlwind, zippy, at speed [chiefly British]

Antonyms

slow

Related Words

expeditious, prompt, ready; accelerated, hastened, hurried, quickened, rushed; breathtaking; energetic, strenuous, strong, vigorous; high-speed; rush; ultrafast, ultrarapid

Near Antonyms

crawling, dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, dragging, laggard, languid, lingering, plodding, poking, poky (or pokey), slowish, sluggish, unhurried; deliberate, leisurely, measured; dilatory, late, tardy; ultraslow

Synonym Discussion of FAST

fast, rapid, swift, fleet, quick, speedy, hasty, expeditious 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> and rapid to the movement itself <rapid current>. swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement <returned the ball with one swift stroke>. fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness <fleet runners>. quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time <a quick wit>. speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment <speedy delivery of mail> and may also suggest unusual velocity. hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness <a hasty inspection>. expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment <the expeditious handling of an order>.

Rhymes with FAST

bast, blast, cast, clast, gast, ghast, last, mast, Nast, past, vast

²fast

adverb

Definition of FAST

1

: in a firm or fixed manner <stuck fast>

2

: in a sound manner : deeply <fast asleep>

3

a : in a rapid manner : quickly

b : in quick succession

4

: in a reckless or dissipated manner

5

: ahead of a correct time or schedule

6

archaic : close, near

Examples of FAST

1. The boss expects this to be done this afternoon, so you'd better work fast.
2. He ran as fast as he could.
3. This is fast becoming a national problem.
4. You need to act fast to take advantage of this offer.
5. I don't know what caused the accident. It all happened so fast.
6. She's a woman who can think fast in a crisis.
7. He's going to have to talk fast to get himself out of this mess.
8. The window was stuck fast.
9. She held fast to her belief in justice.
10. We must stand fast and not surrender!

First Known Use of FAST

before 12th century

Related to FAST

Synonyms

apace, briskly, chop-chop, double-quick, fleetly, full tilt, hastily, hell-for-leather, hot, lickety-split, posthaste, presto, pronto, quick, quickly, rapidly, snappily, soon, speedily, swift, swiftly, a mile a minute, at full throttle, at full tilt, by leaps and bounds, in a hurry, in short order, like a shot, like gangbusters, like wildfire

Antonyms

slow, slowly

Related Words

immediately, promptly, readily; impetuously, impulsively, rashly, recklessly; abruptly, suddenly; energetically, vigorously

Near Antonyms

laggardly, lingeringly, ploddingly, sluggishly; deliberately, leisurely; belatedly, delinquently, tardily

³fast

intransitive verb

Definition of FAST

1

: to abstain from food

2

: to eat sparingly or abstain from some foods

Examples of FAST

1. She always fasts on Yom Kippur.
2. Patients must fast for six hours before having the procedure.

Origin of FAST

Middle English, from Old English fæstan

First Known Use: before 12th century

⁴fast

noun

Definition of FAST

1

: the practice of fasting

2

: a time of fasting

First Known Use of FAST

before 12th century

⁵fast

noun

Definition of FAST

: something that fastens (as a mooring line) or holds a fastening

Origin of FAST

alteration of Middle English fest, from Old Norse festr rope, mooring cable, from fastr firm

First Known Use: 15th century