rapid

1 of 2

adjective

rap·​id ˈra-pəd 

: marked by a fast rate of motion, activity, succession, or occurrence

rapidly adverb

rapidness noun

rapid

2 of 2

noun

: a part of a river where the current is fast and the surface is usually broken by obstructions

—usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction

Synonyms

Adjective

• quick
• brisk
• fast
• swift
• galloping
• speedy

Choose the Right Synonym for rapid

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

Examples of rapid in a Sentence

Adjective

There's been rapid growth in the number of new businesses in the town.

Scientists are concerned about the rapid disappearance of the island's coral reefs.

She carefully guided the boat through the rapid water.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The rapid advances of AI and the ceaseless scheming of cybercriminals and hackers make cyber startups one of the most dynamic and innovative sectors of the tech industry, Chahal says. —Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025

For all the confidence from trade negotiators in recent days and the leaders’ warm remarks as talks got underway in Busan, whether the meeting would take place at all remained an open question just days ago after a rapid escalation of frictions between the two sides. —Betsy Klein, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025

Noun

No death-defying rapids here on this lazy, looping stretch easily paddled by families in canoes. —Stephen Trimble, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025

Slivers of ice were beginning to form along the waterline of our boat, which was tied up just above the rapids that rumble down into Boot Lake. —Bob Cary, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from French & Latin; French rapide, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin rapidus "(of water) flowing violently enough to sweep anything along in its path, swiftly moving, quick," from rapere "to seize and carry off, carry or sweep along" + -idus, adjective suffix; rapere perhaps going back to pre-Latin *r_ep-, secondary zero-grade from presumed *erp-, going back to Indo-European *h₁rp-, zero-grade of a base *h₁rep- "seize, pluck," whence also Lithuanian aprė́piu, aprė́pti "to surround, include," Albanian rjep "removes, robs," Greek ereptómenos "feeding on, devouring"

Noun

borrowed from French rapide, noun derivative of rapide, adjective, "swiftly moving, rapid entry 1"

First Known Use

Adjective

1634, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1765, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rapid

• in quick/rapid succession
• rapid eye movement
• rapid eye movement sleep
• rapid-fire
• rapid transit

Rhymes for rapid

• rapide
• vapid

Kids Definition

rapid

1 of 2 adjective

rap·​id ˈrap-əd 

: very fast

rapidity

rə-ˈpid-ət-ē

ra-

noun

rapidly adverb

rapidness noun

rapid

2 of 2 noun

: a part of a river where the current flows fast usually over rocks

—usually used in plural