1
2
: firmly loyal
became fast friends
3
a
: characterized by quick motion, operation, or effect:
(1)
: moving or able to move rapidly : swift
a fast horse
(2)
: taking a comparatively short time
a fast race
(3)
: imparting quickness of motion
a fast bowler
(4)
: accomplished quickly
fast work
(5)
: agile of mind
especially
: quick to learn
a class for fast students
b
: conducive to rapidity of play or action
a fast track
c(1)
of a timepiece or weighing device
: indicating in advance of what is correct
Your clock is two minutes fast.
(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
R. A. Keith4
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
fell into a fast sleep
6
: not fading or changing color readily
fast colors
7
a
: actively seeking excitement and pleasure : wild
a pretty fast crowd
b
: sexually promiscuous
8
: resistant to change (as from destructive action or fading)
fast dyes
—often used in combinationsunfast
acid-fast bacteria
fasted; fasting; fasts
Synonyms
Examples of fast in a Sentence
Adjective
She's a very fast runner.
We're off to a fast start.
We're now experiencing a faster rate of inflation.
We took the faster route.
Adverb
The boss expects this to be done this afternoon, so you'd better work fast.
He ran as fast as he could.
This is fast becoming a national problem.
You need to act fast to take advantage of this offer.
I don't know what caused the accident. It all happened so fast.
She's a woman who can think fast in a crisis.
He's going to have to talk fast to get himself out of this mess.
The window was stuck fast.
She held fast to her belief in justice.
We must stand fast and not surrender!
Verb
She always fasts on Yom Kippur.
Patients must fast for six hours before having the procedure.
Recent Examples on the WebClarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2024
Police on Friday arrested a second person involved with the killing of Charlotte teenager Fate Brannon inside a fast food restaurant.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2024
Homes listed in Sharonville typically have a pending offer in less than a week, which is one of the fastest turnaround times of any housing market in Ohio.
—Randy Tucker
cincinnati Enquirer, The Enquirer, 26 Apr. 2024
In doing so, the government aims to make providers more accountable for outages, require more robust network security, protect fast speeds, and require greater protections for consumer data.
—Emma Bowman, NPR, 26 Apr. 2024
Your Questions, Answered What type of bath mat dries the fastest?
—Kate Oczypok, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2024
The young athlete is fast on her way to achieving her goals.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024
Black and Latino Americans are more likely to live in lower-income neighborhoods, where fast food is usually cheaper and more convenient than grocery stores.
—Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
But while their desire for an alternative is understandable, once the country was reunified under communism, retribution against the South was fast and harsh.
—Nick Hilden, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2024
Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2024
Adults held fast to the children or shaded them under blankets until the train slowed, and the migrants climbed down, blocks from the U.S. border, to decide their next move.
—USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2024
The world would spin faster and with more clarity if Shiloh was in charge.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 27 Apr. 2024
Skaters move faster than people in sneakers, and the puck moves fast, too.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2024
While diving to catch prey, peregrines can fly faster than 200 mph.
—The Enquirer, 27 Apr. 2024
This year or next, though, companies could produce accelerator chips that will make encryption tools like Zama’s run much faster.
—Nick Rockel, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024
The event room was filling up fast, despite the fact that library director Mara Strickler held off on posting my visit to social media until three days before, opting instead for a word-of-mouth campaign.
—Diana Goetsch, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
The 2025 iteration sees an increase in range, faster charging, more power, and more standard features compared to its predecessors—essentially, everything the owner of a 2024 Taycan doesn’t want to hear.
—Peter Bleakney, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2024
Cole Kazdin, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, and spend time in self-reflection and prayer.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan — the holiest month in the Islamic calendar when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food and drink.
—The Enquirer, 9 Apr. 2024
Palestinians shop for Eid al-Fitr, the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, in Rafah today.
—NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
According to the Islamic Society of North America, if a sighting of the crescent moon is not possible at that particular time, the month will come to a close after 30 days of fasting.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
This medication has shown promise in managing markers of fasting blood sugar levels, and hemoglobin A1c with people who have Type 2 diabetes.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2024
Good Friday is a day of fasting within the Catholic church.
—Jason Rossi, The Enquirer, 29 Mar. 2024
Saint Catherine, who fasted almost unto death, was said to be revived after drinking blood from the side wound of Jesus.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
After breaking the fast, attendees listened to a presentation by Donna Nevel, co-director of nonprofit PARCEO, an education center that offers workshops on participatory action research or PAR, a collective research and organizing model that aims to build community and make change.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
These outdoor iftar factories, where the cooks prepare a charity meal to break the fast at sunset, are in Bedford-Stuyvesant, one of New York City’s most rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods.
—Liam Stack Stephanie Keith, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Nothing like a little breakfast outing to break a fast.
—Jim Lindgren, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2024
There are spiritually rich and observant ways to worship that include delaying or forgoing a fast.
—Azmia Ricchuito, SELF, 7 Mar. 2024
Across the Gaza Strip, families like hers are breaking their daylong fasts with dates, cans of fava beans, or soup handed out as aid.
—Ghada Abdulfattah, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2024
When sunset arrived and the Maghrib prayer time sounded, signaling the time to break their fast, the family gathered around.
—Marwa Mouaki, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2024
In the north, people are forced to forage for wild plants during the day to break their fast at night.
—NBC News, 16 Mar. 2024
Adjective
At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Flournoy is big and fast receiver who should make an early impact on special teams.
—Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2024
Police on Friday arrested a second person involved with the killing of Charlotte teenager Fate Brannon inside a fast food restaurant.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2024
Homes listed in Sharonville typically have a pending offer in less than a week, which is one of the fastest turnaround times of any housing market in Ohio.
—Randy Tucker
cincinnati Enquirer, The Enquirer, 26 Apr. 2024
In doing so, the government aims to make providers more accountable for outages, require more robust network security, protect fast speeds, and require greater protections for consumer data.
—Emma Bowman, NPR, 26 Apr. 2024
Your Questions, Answered What type of bath mat dries the fastest?
—Kate Oczypok, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2024
The young athlete is fast on her way to achieving her goals.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024
Black and Latino Americans are more likely to live in lower-income neighborhoods, where fast food is usually cheaper and more convenient than grocery stores.
—Karen Kaplan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Apr. 2024
But while their desire for an alternative is understandable, once the country was reunified under communism, retribution against the South was fast and harsh.
—Nick Hilden, Washington Post, 14 Apr. 2024
Adverb
This happens when water in front of the tire builds up faster than the vehicle’s weight can push water out of the way.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Apr. 2024
Adults held fast to the children or shaded them under blankets until the train slowed, and the migrants climbed down, blocks from the U.S. border, to decide their next move.
—USA TODAY, 28 Apr. 2024
The world would spin faster and with more clarity if Shiloh was in charge.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 27 Apr. 2024
Skaters move faster than people in sneakers, and the puck moves fast, too.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2024
While diving to catch prey, peregrines can fly faster than 200 mph.
—The Enquirer, 27 Apr. 2024
This year or next, though, companies could produce accelerator chips that will make encryption tools like Zama’s run much faster.
—Nick Rockel, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024
The event room was filling up fast, despite the fact that library director Mara Strickler held off on posting my visit to social media until three days before, opting instead for a word-of-mouth campaign.
—Diana Goetsch, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
The 2025 iteration sees an increase in range, faster charging, more power, and more standard features compared to its predecessors—essentially, everything the owner of a 2024 Taycan doesn’t want to hear.
—Peter Bleakney, Robb Report, 16 Apr. 2024
Verb
Binge eating often emerges as part of a cycle of restriction—dieting, fasting, or eliminating entire food groups—like carbs, for example.
—Cole Kazdin, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, and spend time in self-reflection and prayer.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan — the holiest month in the Islamic calendar when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, abstaining from food and drink.
—The Enquirer, 9 Apr. 2024
Palestinians shop for Eid al-Fitr, the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, in Rafah today.
—NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024
According to the Islamic Society of North America, if a sighting of the crescent moon is not possible at that particular time, the month will come to a close after 30 days of fasting.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
This medication has shown promise in managing markers of fasting blood sugar levels, and hemoglobin A1c with people who have Type 2 diabetes.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 6 Apr. 2024
Good Friday is a day of fasting within the Catholic church.
—Jason Rossi, The Enquirer, 29 Mar. 2024
Saint Catherine, who fasted almost unto death, was said to be revived after drinking blood from the side wound of Jesus.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Noun
The holiday is Arabic for the celebration of breaking the fast.
—Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
After breaking the fast, attendees listened to a presentation by Donna Nevel, co-director of nonprofit PARCEO, an education center that offers workshops on participatory action research or PAR, a collective research and organizing model that aims to build community and make change.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024
These outdoor iftar factories, where the cooks prepare a charity meal to break the fast at sunset, are in Bedford-Stuyvesant, one of New York City’s most rapidly gentrifying neighborhoods.
—Liam Stack Stephanie Keith, New York Times, 29 Mar. 2024
Nothing like a little breakfast outing to break a fast.
—Jim Lindgren, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2024
There are spiritually rich and observant ways to worship that include delaying or forgoing a fast.
—Azmia Ricchuito, SELF, 7 Mar. 2024
Across the Gaza Strip, families like hers are breaking their daylong fasts with dates, cans of fava beans, or soup handed out as aid.
—Ghada Abdulfattah, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2024
When sunset arrived and the Maghrib prayer time sounded, signaling the time to break their fast, the family gathered around.
—Marwa Mouaki, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2024
In the north, people are forced to forage for wild plants during the day to break their fast at night.
—NBC News, 16 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fast.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Fast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fast. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fast
1 of 4 adjective1
a
: firmly fixed or bound
b
: tightly shut
c
: sticking firmly
2
: firmly loyal
became fast friends
3
a
: moving or able to move rapidly
b
: taking a short time
c
: giving quickness of motion (as to a thrown ball)
d
: favorable to speed
the faster route
4
: indicating ahead of the correct time
my clock is fast
5
: tricky and unfair
pulled a fast one
6
: not likely to fade
fast colors
fast
3 of 4 verb1
: to go without eating
2
: to eat in small amounts or only certain foods
fast
4 of 4 noun1
: the act of fasting
2
: a time of fasting
Etymology
Adjective
Old English fæst "firmly fixed"
Verb
Old English fæstan "to go without eating"
Medical Definition
fast
1 of 3 adjective1
: firmly fixed
2
a
: having a rapid effect
a fast medicine
b
: allowing for the rapid passage of a gas or liquid
3
: resistant to change (as from destructive action)
—used chiefly of organisms and in combination with the agent resisted
acid-fast bacteria
fast
2 of 3 intransitive verb1
: to abstain from food
2
: to eat sparingly or abstain from some foods
: to deny food to
the patient is fasted and given a mild hypnotic—Lancet
Lancetfast
3 of 3 noun1
: the practice of fasting
2
: a time of fasting
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