swift

¹swift

adjective \ˈswift\

Definition of SWIFT

1

: moving or capable of moving with great speed <a swift runner>

2

: occurring suddenly or within a very short time <a swift transition>

3

: quick to respond : ready

Examples of SWIFT

1. a swift and accurate response
2. <the sleekest, swiftest boat ever to have sailed in the regatta>

Origin of SWIFT

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old English swīfan to revolve — more at swivel

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SWIFT

Synonyms

blistering, breakneck, breathless, brisk, dizzy, fleet, fleet-footed, flying, galloping, hasty, hot, lightning, nippy, quick, rapid, rapid-fire, rattling, snappy, speedy, splitting, fast, whirlwind, zippy

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

See Synonym Discussion at fast

Rhymes with SWIFT

drift, gift, grift, lift, rift, shift, shrift, sift, squiffed, thrift

²swift

adverb

Definition of SWIFT

: swiftly <swift-flowing>

Examples of SWIFT

1. <tried to cross the swift-flowing river>

First Known Use of SWIFT

14th century

Related to SWIFT

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, fast, swiftly

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

³swift

noun

Definition of SWIFT

1

: any of several lizards (especially of the genus Sceloporus) that run swiftly

2

: a reel for winding yarn or thread

3

: any of numerous small plainly colored birds (family Apodidae) that are related to the hummingbirds but superficially much resemble swallows

First Known Use of SWIFT

15th century

Swift

biographical name \ˈswift\

Definition of SWIFT

Gustavus Franklin 1839–1903 Am. meatpacker

Swift

biographical name

Definition of SWIFT

Jonathan 1667–1745 Eng. (Irish-born) satirist

— Swift·ian \ˈswif-tē-ən\ adjective

swift

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any of about 75 species (family Apodidae) of birds found almost worldwide. The fastest of small birds, swifts can fly at 70 mph (110 kph). They are 4–9 in. (9–23 cm) long and have long wings, a chunky dark body, a broad head, and a short, wide, slightly curved bill. The tail may be short or long and deeply forked. Swifts capture insects, drink, bathe, and sometimes mate on the wing. The feet, incapable of perching, are used to cling to vertical surfaces. Swifts use their sticky saliva to glue the nest to a cave wall, the inside of a chimney, or a tree hollow.