: marked by a fast rate of motion, activity, succession, or occurrence
rapidly
adverb
rapidness
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
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
Andrew Herbert, Discover Magazine, 27 Apr. 2024
The rapid pace of advancement in AI systems for ERP means companies need to be able to continually update their internal software, and that can’t be done on-site without serious costs, Asam said.
—Will Daniel, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2024
The rapid and overwhelming use of force seems disproportionate to a nonviolent student protest.
—Nara Milanich, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024
Roach described how the private association has seen a rapid rise in policyholders in recent years as major insurance companies have paused or restricted new business in the state.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 26 Apr. 2024
To better understand the rapid rise and adoption of generative AI tools, in late June 2023, The Verge and Vox Media partnered to conduct a representative study of how adult Americans are using and thinking about AI.
—Verge Press Room, The Verge, 26 Apr. 2024
Of particular concern is the Aedes aegypti, which love to bite people — often multiple times in rapid succession.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Adding to its woes, its rapid expansion in different parts of the world during the peak of its success made matters worse.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 16 Apr. 2024
The layoffs were predicated by the overall reduction in Marvel’s slate of film and TV titles after the challenges of the 2023 releases led the company to reassess the rapid increase in productions to feed the launch of Disney+.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 15 Apr. 2024
USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2024
The river, its banks, and its gradient are transforming so fast that boater informational guides can’t keep up with new beaches forming and old ones slumping away, temporary rapids created from mud moving downstream, and historic rapids resurrecting.
—Cassidy Randall, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2024
Per the official synopsis, once the group become stranded in raging rapids, the thrill-seeking trip quickly turns from exciting to utterly terrifying as the rafters are trapped in a desperate fight for their lives, all while someone seems intent on sabotage to ensure shocking secrets stay buried.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 13 July 2023
Just upstream of Glen Canyon, 65 percent of Cataract Canyon was also flooded, and many of its fearsome rapids disappeared.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024
Two years ago, science journalist Melissa Sevigny retraced their adventure, whitewater rafting the same rapids and sleeping under the stars to learn more about who these women were—and why their work still influences the scientific landscape of America today.
—Shraddha Chowdhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Nov. 2023
The water was plenty cold, but not too high, making the rapids more manageable.
—Billy Baker, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Apr. 2023
Inexperienced paddlers should stick to calm water without a lot of rapids.
—Matthew Every, Field & Stream, 14 Dec. 2023
On the other side of the globe last week, winding Hong Kong streets became surging rapids.
—Theodora Yu, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023
Adjective
Globally, a big part of this is due to the rapid development and industrialization of countries in East Asia over the last 50 years.
—Andrew Herbert, Discover Magazine, 27 Apr. 2024
The rapid pace of advancement in AI systems for ERP means companies need to be able to continually update their internal software, and that can’t be done on-site without serious costs, Asam said.
—Will Daniel, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2024
The rapid and overwhelming use of force seems disproportionate to a nonviolent student protest.
—Nara Milanich, TIME, 26 Apr. 2024
Roach described how the private association has seen a rapid rise in policyholders in recent years as major insurance companies have paused or restricted new business in the state.
—Stephen Hobbs, Sacramento Bee, 26 Apr. 2024
To better understand the rapid rise and adoption of generative AI tools, in late June 2023, The Verge and Vox Media partnered to conduct a representative study of how adult Americans are using and thinking about AI.
—Verge Press Room, The Verge, 26 Apr. 2024
Of particular concern is the Aedes aegypti, which love to bite people — often multiple times in rapid succession.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2024
Adding to its woes, its rapid expansion in different parts of the world during the peak of its success made matters worse.
—Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 16 Apr. 2024
The layoffs were predicated by the overall reduction in Marvel’s slate of film and TV titles after the challenges of the 2023 releases led the company to reassess the rapid increase in productions to feed the launch of Disney+.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 15 Apr. 2024
Noun
National Geographic also recommends road-tripping on Route 66 through New Mexico, catching the total solar eclipse on April 8 at Terrapin Point in Niagara Falls State Park, antiquing in New York's Hudson Valley and rafting through the rapids in West Virginia's New River.
—USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2024
The river, its banks, and its gradient are transforming so fast that boater informational guides can’t keep up with new beaches forming and old ones slumping away, temporary rapids created from mud moving downstream, and historic rapids resurrecting.
—Cassidy Randall, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2024
Per the official synopsis, once the group become stranded in raging rapids, the thrill-seeking trip quickly turns from exciting to utterly terrifying as the rafters are trapped in a desperate fight for their lives, all while someone seems intent on sabotage to ensure shocking secrets stay buried.
—Lauren Huff, EW.com, 13 July 2023
Just upstream of Glen Canyon, 65 percent of Cataract Canyon was also flooded, and many of its fearsome rapids disappeared.
—Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Jan. 2024
Two years ago, science journalist Melissa Sevigny retraced their adventure, whitewater rafting the same rapids and sleeping under the stars to learn more about who these women were—and why their work still influences the scientific landscape of America today.
—Shraddha Chowdhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Nov. 2023
The water was plenty cold, but not too high, making the rapids more manageable.
—Billy Baker, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Apr. 2023
Inexperienced paddlers should stick to calm water without a lot of rapids.
—Matthew Every, Field & Stream, 14 Dec. 2023
On the other side of the globe last week, winding Hong Kong streets became surging rapids.
—Theodora Yu, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rapid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rapid
Cite this Entry
“Rapid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rapid. Accessed 1 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rapid
1 of 2 adjective
rap·id
ˈrap-əd 
: very fast
rapidity
noun
rə-ˈpid-ət-ē
ra-
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
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