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Warp speed is an example of a phrase that entered the public consciousness through science fiction and eventually gained enough popularity to end up in the dictionary. The expression was popularized on the science-fiction show Star Trek in the 1960s. On the show, warp speed referred to a specific concept, namely the idea of faster-than-light travel. Within a relatively short period of time, Star Trek gained a devoted and intense following. Fans were soon discussing the fictional concepts of the show, including warp speed, with great enthusiasm. Eventually, the term warp speed was adopted by the general population. In the process, however, it lost its specific fictional meaning and came to mean simply "the highest possible speed."
Examples of warp speed in a Sentence
Talya Zax, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
In a city where traffic rarely eases and culture shifts at warp speed, Atiyya NaDirah has emerged as one of Atlanta's most recognizable and unfiltered digital storytellers.
—Alexa Liacko, CBS News, 19 Feb. 2026
The pace of obsolescence seems to be moving at warp speed for both AI hardware and software, particularly the LLMs.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2026
Just for a brief second, given the hectic schedule that’s become a daily routine, Kon Knueppel takes a minute to reflect on a journey that’s probably felt like it’s happened at warp speed.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Warp speed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/warp%20speed. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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