rapid
1 of 2adjective
rapid
2 of 2noun
Synonyms
Adjective
- 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
Example Sentences
Corinne Ramey, WSJ, 11 Sep. 2022 Left Behind, with the exception of a rapid rise in fourth grade reading from 2007 through 2011. al, 8 Sep. 2022 Orlando renters who receive federal assistance will get a boost next year to combat the rapid rise in rent prices, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Trevor Fraser, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2022 Henderson has undergone a rapid rise through the minor leagues this season, representing the Orioles in the MLB All-Star Futures Game. Nathan Ruiz, Baltimore Sun, 31 Aug. 2022 This year’s rapid rise in mortgage rates and home prices has discouraged buyers. Kathy Orton, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022 But despite their firm popularity among younger viewers, the rapid rise of the streaming industry may be starting to plateau, as rising living costs around the world make expensive subscriptions less appealing. Tristan Bove, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2022 Then, in 2022, inflation continued its rapid rise, hitting 9.1 percent in June—the fastest pace since November 1981. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Aug. 2022 The red-hot real estate industry has contributed immensely to China’s rapid economic rise and the dream of home ownership. Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2022 Rachel Walker, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2022 Shawn is a very experienced rafter, but thanks to this chain of events, he and my seven-year-old daughter, Hollis, were suddenly headed toward a Class IV rapid called Velvet Falls, an infamous bottomless hydraulic that eats swimmers. Tracy Ross, Outside Online, 2 Nov. 2020 There is a definitive need for rapid-acting, effective treatments. Kathleen Frazier, Variety, 20 May 2022 Among the tips: People who have COVID-19 symptoms who test negative on their first rapid, at-home test should take additional tests to double-check the result. Martin Finucane, BostonGlobe.com, 19 May 2022 There’s not a single rapid in 100 river miles between Ruby Ranch, through Canyonlands National Park, to the confluence with the Colorado River, making this the most mellow of family flat-water floats. Katie Arnold, Outside Online, 25 July 2014 On one commercial trip, while the rest of the guides and clients portaged the rafts along the bank of a Class VI rapid called Number 9, Coetzee, without telling anyone, ran it in his kayak. Grayson Schaffer, Outside Online, 7 Feb. 2011 Sabine Heller, the chief commercial officer for Sollis, told me that the concierge service has expanded since then, with members now enjoying unlimited rapid, PCR, and antibody testing as well as monoclonal antibody treatments and other services. Yasmeen Serhan, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2022 No appointments are required for the free rapid and PCR tests. Sarah Ladd, The Courier-Journal, 22 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Adjective
borrowed from French & Latin; French rapide, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin rapidus "(of water) flowing violently enough to sweep anything along in its path, swiftly moving, quick," from rapere "to seize and carry off, carry or sweep along" + -idus, adjective suffix; rapere perhaps going back to pre-Latin *rep-, secondary zero-grade from presumed *erp-, going back to Indo-European *h1rp-, zero-grade of a base *h1rep- "seize, pluck," whence also Lithuanian aprė́piu, aprė́pti "to surround, include," Albanian rjep "removes, robs," Greek ereptómenos "feeding on, devouring"
Noun
borrowed from French rapide, noun derivative of rapide, adjective, "swiftly moving, rapid entry 1"
Adjective
1634, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1765, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing rapid
Kids Definition
rapid
adjective
rapid
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- quick
- fast
- brisk
- swift
- galloping
- speedy
- hasty
- breakneck
- whirlwind
- accelerated
- lightning
- hurried
- rapid-fire
- rattling
- hot
- breathless
- blistering
- flying
- fleet
- expeditious
- splitting
- zippy
- snappy
- vigorous
- at speed
- dizzy
- prompt
- fleet-footed
- strong
- hastened
- quickened
- rushed
- nippy
- ready
- breathtaking
- rush
- strenuous
- energetic
- high-speed
- ultrafast
- ultrarapid
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- slow
- sluggish
- unhurried
- deliberate
- languid
- crawling
- dragging
- leisurely
- plodding
- laggard
- lingering
- pokey
- poky
- slowish
- measured
- late
- dilatory
- tardy
- dallying
- dawdling
- dillydallying
- poking
- ultraslow
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of rapid are expeditious, fast, fleet, hasty, quick, speedy, and swift. While all these words mean "moving, proceeding, or acting with celerity," rapid applies to the movement itself, rather than to the thing that moves.
Although the words expeditious and rapid have much in common, expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment.
Both fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves.
The meanings of fleet and rapid largely overlap; however, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.
While in some cases nearly identical to rapid, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.
The synonyms quick and rapid are sometimes interchangeable, but quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.
In some situations, the words speedy and rapid are roughly equivalent. However, speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.
The words swift and rapid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, swift suggests great rapidity coupled with ease of movement.