speedy

adjective

ˈspē-dē 

speedier; speediest

: marked by swiftness of motion or action

also : prompt sense 2

speedily

ˈspē-də-lē 

adverb

speediness

ˈspē-dē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• rapid
• quick
• fast
• brisk
• swift
• galloping

Choose the Right Synonym for speedy

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 speedy in a Sentence

They wished her a speedy recovery.

a speedy worker but not a very careful one, unfortunately

Recent Examples on the Web

The last came in coverage, holding the speedy Zay Flowers to no gain and putting the Ravens – driving in the fourth quarter to cut it to a one-touchdown game – into a fourth-and-10 situation that would end in an incompletion. —Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 12 Oct. 2025

Chenal noted that the Lions have playmakers across the field, including speedy receivers on the outside and running backs who must be respected in the ground game. —Jesse Newell, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025

Mitchell, a speedy sophomore who began the year on Mahtomedi’s B-squad, hauled in a 70-yard touchdown catch and scored again on a long kickoff return – all in the second quarter. —Frank Rajkowski, Twin Cities, 11 Oct. 2025

Nvidia’s speedy chips are at the heart of ChatGPT. —Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English spedi "beneficial, unencumbered, agile, prompt," from sped "luck, success, assistance, rate of progress" + -i -y entry 1 — more at speed entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing speedy

• speedy recovery

Rhymes for speedy

• beady
• greedy
• guidi
• needy
• reedy
• seedy
• tweedy
• weedy
• unready

Kids Definition

speedy

adjective

ˈspēd-ē 

speedier; speediest

: moving or taking place fast

speedily

ˈspēd-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

speediness

ˈspēd-ē-nəs 

noun