Definition of rapid
: marked by a fast rate of motion, activity, succession, or occurrence
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rapidly
adverb
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Examples of rapid in a Sentence
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 of rapid from the Web
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The White House’s director of rapid response, Steven Cheung, left last week.
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This is a cloud over the global economy: such a rapid increase often predicts financial trouble.
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The vessels have debuted in rapid succession since 2015.
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The Antarctic Peninsula is also shedding ice, though at a less rapid clip, while East Antarctica has remained fairly steady.
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Vaxchora has never been tested for that rapid effect because no one ever thought to test a vaccine in the days before immunity develops, Hall says.
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The rapid increase in illicit drug use has long been noted.
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The 40-year-old president is betting that his rapid pro-business overhauls will spur risk-taking, growth and job creation.
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Some of Milland’s more remunerative work came from employers who posted hundreds or thousands of tasks at a time that could be completed in rapid succession.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rapid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of rapid
Latin rapidus seizing, sweeping, rapid, from rapere to seize, sweep away; akin to Lithuanian aprėpti to embrace
rapid Synonyms
Synonyms
blistering, breakneck, breathless, brisk, dizzy, fast, fleet, fleet-footed, flying, galloping, hasty, hot, lightning, nippy, quick, rapid-fire, rattling, snappy, speedy, splitting, swift, whirlwind, zippy;
Antonyms
slow;
Near Antonyms
crawling, dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, dragging, laggard, languid, lingering, plodding, poking, poky (or pokey), slowish, sluggish, unhurried;
Related Words
accelerated, hastened, hurried, quickened, rushed;
energetic, strenuous, strong, vigorous;
rush;
Synonym Discussion of rapid
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
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- fast horses
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- rapid current
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- returned the ball with one swift stroke
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- fleet runners
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- a quick wit
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- speedy delivery of mail
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- a hasty inspection
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- the expeditious handling of an order
Definition of rapid
: 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
Recent Examples of rapid from the Web
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So, the riders make this 19-hour journey, past farmland dotted with grazing cows, the Susquehanna River rapids coursing around an eccentric replica Statue of Liberty, the monotony of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
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At first, this force is strong like rapids, flooding everything.
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The teenage boy and girl stood on a rock, stuck between two swift currents, while Macon-Bibb swift water firefighters attempted to wade through knee-deep rapids to rescue them.
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The Potomac River was approaching flood stage and had transformed the falls into a boiling, churning set of rapids.
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The primary run is from Lotus to Folsom Lake, east of Sacramento, with hot weather, cool water and rapids rated Class I to III.
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While several paddlers made it through unscathed, others got hung up on the rocks or opted to portage out past the rapids.
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The Smokey Falls full-day trip gives the biggest thrill, with class 3 and 4 rapids.
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This is an easy, low-cost run, includes a shuttle, with just enough Class II and III rapids to provide youngsters with a taste of exhilaration.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rapid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of rapid
1765
RAPID Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of rapid for English Language Learners
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: happening in a short amount of time : happening quickly
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: having a fast rate
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: moving quickly
RAPID Defined for Kids
Definition of rapid for Students
: very fast
- a rapid current
- rapid progress
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rapidly
adverbLearn More about rapid
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See words that rhyme with rapid Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for rapid Spanish Central: Translation of rapid Nglish: Translation of rapid for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of rapid for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
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