fast 1 of 4

adverb

Definition of fastnext
1
as in quickly
with great speed run as fast as you can to get help

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2
as in quite
to a full extent or degree everyone in camp was fast asleep within minutes of hitting the sack

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fast

2 of 4

adjective

ˈfast How to pronounce fast (audio)
1
as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed the fast pace of construction resulted in our new house being done ahead of schedule

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2
as in loyal
firm in one's allegiance to someone or something the two girls soon became fast and inseparable friends

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3
as in tight
firmly positioned in place and difficult to dislodge the rusty, old screws are so fast in the fitting that there's no hope of getting them out

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4
as in deceptive
given to or marked by cheating and deception rolling back odometers was just one of the fast practices that the used-car dealer was guilty of

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5
as in sturdy
marked by the ability to withstand stress without structural damage or distortion as the storm approached, we checked to see that every thing on the outside of the house was fast and locked in position

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6
as in short
not lasting for a considerable time after a fast explanation of the procedure, we were turned loose to do the work

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7
as in quick
having or showing quickness of mind I don't know how to operate this machine, but I'm a fast learner

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fast

3 of 4

noun

as in famine

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fast

4 of 4

verb

as in to diet

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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For
Try This
a fast response
a quick response
a timely response
a speedy response
a rapid response
a same-day response
a fast pace
an accelerated pace
a swift pace
a rapid pace
a quick pace
a frantic pace
a fast track
a focused track
an expeditious track
a quick track
a rapid track
an advanced track
a fast service
a quick-response service
an efficient service
a prompt service
an instant service
a timely service
a fast growth
a rapid growth
a drastic growth
a swift growth
a sharp growth
a strong growth

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective fast contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of fast are expeditious, fleet, hasty, quick, rapid, speedy, and swift. While all these words 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

When can expeditious be used instead of fast?

The words expeditious and fast are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment.

the expeditious handling of an order

When is it sensible to use fleet instead of fast?

While the synonyms fleet and fast are close in meaning, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

In what contexts can hasty take the place of fast?

Although the words hasty and fast have much in common, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

When would quick be a good substitute for fast?

In some situations, the words quick and fast are roughly equivalent. However, quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

When might rapid be a better fit than fast?

The meanings of rapid and fast largely overlap; however, rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.

rapid current

When is speedy a more appropriate choice than fast?

The words speedy and fast can be used in similar contexts, but speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

When could swift be used to replace fast?

While in some cases nearly identical to fast, swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.

returned the ball with one swift stroke

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fast
Adverb
In games with ray-tracing effects enabled, the 9060 XT soundly beats the 7700 XT and 6800 and runs some games like Cyberpunk 2077 around twice as fast as the old 7600 XT. —ArsTechnica, 4 June 2025 Summer may be fast approaching, but Sydney Sweeney isn’t leaving her boots behind. —Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 4 June 2025
Adjective
The fast food chain has 103 restaurants in North America and more than 1,700 worldwide with more stores, like the Elk Grove location, planned to open, according to the company website. —Marcus D. Smith, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2025 Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) (a condition with lightheadedness and a fast heart rate when changing to a standing position) Types of Migraine The two main types of migraine are:4 Migraine without aura. —Cathy Nelson, Verywell Health, 3 June 2025
Noun
At sunset, families and friends break their fast with a meal that often begins with water and dates. —Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Apr. 2025 Ramadan, when many Muslims fast daily from dawn to dusk, is also peak television season in the Arab world, when families watch shows late into the night after breaking their fast. —Ismaeel Naar, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
In the United States, the observance is more common among Muslims (80%), for whom fasting during the holy month of Ramadan is a key ritual. —Ben Sales, Sun Sentinel, 7 May 2025 Excessive eating, as well as fasting, are both extremes of dietary intake that can increase your cortisol levels. —Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 7 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for fast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fast
  1. quite
  2. rapid
  3. loyal
  4. tight
  5. deceptive
  6. sturdy
  7. short
  8. quick
Adverb
  • In addition, and quite importantly, the interactive nature of generative AI makes a huge difference too.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • While the former first-round pick of the Buffalo Bills hasn’t quite found his footing in the league just yet, the early returns have been positive enough to give the coaching staff more confidence in a depleted cornerback room at the moment.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 June 2025
Definition of quite
Adjective
  • However, no big promises are being made about throwing a lot of money at a rapid rise.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 29 May 2025
  • The consequences of warming will probably vary widely across the world, the report found: rapid thawing of Arctic sea ice, drier seasons in the Amazon, excess rain in places such as Alaska, northern Europe and the Sahel in north-central Africa.
    — Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
Definition of rapid
Adjective
  • The friends not keen on competing become our valiant team of producers — recording content and posting updates live for our loyal Instagram fanbase (almost 200 followers).
    — Mia Venkat, NPR, 31 May 2025
  • His close friends and colleagues often described him as loyal, deeply thoughtful, and warm in his own way—just not overly expressive.
    — Julio Cesar Valdera Morales, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
Definition of loyal
Adjective
  • Trump’s new team, new strategy With Leo sidelined, Trump’s judicial nominations are now being shaped by a tighter circle of aides and outside activists.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 3 June 2025
  • The Black family is among those at two of Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s largest high schools, Ardrey Kell and Myers Park, facing tight guest limits at graduation ceremonies this year due to a venue change from the Spectrum Center to the smaller Bojangles Coliseum.
    — Nora O’Neill, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2025
Definition of tight
Adjective
  • Last year, the Biden administration's Transportation Department opened an inquiry ordering American, Delta Air Lines, Southwest and United to provide records and submit reports to ensure consumers do not face unfair, deceptive, or anticompetitive practices.
    — David Shepardson, USA Today, 3 June 2025
  • The quest to build human-level AI agents using techniques known to produce deceptive tendencies, Bengio says, is comparable to a car speeding down a narrow mountain road, with steep cliffs on either side, and thick fog obscuring the path ahead.
    — Harry Booth, Time, 3 June 2025
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • It’s got all the gaming-friendly extras; HDR support, DP 1.4, HDMI, and a metal stand that actually feels sturdy for once.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 26 May 2025
  • Subscribers can save up to 76 percent on tons of coveted finds for the holiday weekend, including summer fashion, sturdy luggage, and outdoor furniture.
    — Clara McMahon, People.com, 23 May 2025
Definition of sturdy
Adjective
  • In a short address to the squad on Monday evening, Wiegman expressed, in front of Earps, sentiments of frustration, disappointment and anger at Earps’ decision before walking out of the room.
    — Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 28 May 2025
  • In short, for those researching the cost of hair transplants in Turkey vs. Mexico, Turkey continues to offer a more affordable and convenient solution, especially for international travelers looking for bundled care with no surprise fees.
    — William Jones, USA Today, 28 May 2025
Definition of short
Adjective
  • By the time Trump met Kim for a second summit in Hanoi, Trump’s attention had drifted from North Korea, and both men’s greed for a quick deal derailed their fragile progress.
    — John Delury, Foreign Affairs, 3 June 2025
  • No matter how small your business, here is a quick blueprint for strengthening your defense against common cyber threats: Start with the basics.
    — Harry Kazakian, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of quick

Browse Nearby Words

fashions
fast
fastback
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Cite this Entry

“Fast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fast. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fast

Nglish: Translation of fast for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fast

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