swiftly

adverb

swift·​ly ˈswif(t)-lē How to pronounce swiftly (audio)
Synonyms of swiftlynext
: in a swift manner : with speed : quickly

Examples of swiftly in a Sentence

swiftly established himself as a star in Hollywood
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
As a bare stage swiftly gets dressed in black curtains framing its sides, rumblings fester in the dance ensemble’s torsos and limbs; Danker’s music becomes increasingly driving, propulsive (and painfully loud—an issue that persists through most of the evening). Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026 Ripple effects from the Iran war, which began in late February, have swiftly set back progress on inflation and added more pressure for Americans struggling with affordability. Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026 Orbán acted swiftly to entrench himself. Kapil Komireddi, New Yorker, 10 Apr. 2026 This is a beast that’s more fun than furious, who clearly and swiftly regrets his violent outbursts. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for swiftly

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of swiftly was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Swiftly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swiftly. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster