fast
adjective /fɑːst/
/fæst/
(comparative faster, superlative fastest)
Idioms - moving or able to move quickly
- a fast car/horse
- He's just become the world's fastest runner.
Extra Examples- Her pulse seemed very fast.
- She loves driving fast cars.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- happening in a short time or without delay
- We've recorded the fastest rate of increase for several years.
- We can guarantee a fast response time.
- Technology was expanding at a fast pace.
- a period of fast economic growth
Which Word? fast / quick / rapidfast / quick / rapidThese adjectives are frequently used with the following nouns:fast ~ quick ~ rapid ~ car glance change train look growth bowler reply increase pace decision decline lane way progress - Fast is used especially to describe a person or thing that moves or is able to move at great speed.
- Quick is more often used to describe something that is done in a short time or without delay.
- Rapid, swift and speedy are more formal words.
- Rapid is most commonly used to describe the speed at which something changes. It is not used to describe the speed at which something moves or is done:
- a rapid train
- We had a rapid coffee.
- Swift usually describes something that happens or is done quickly and immediately:
- a swift decision
- The government took swift action.
- Speedy has a similar meaning:
- a speedy recovery
- a speedy car.
- For the use of fast and quick as adverbs, note at quick.
Extra Examples- I should make a very fast profit on these.
- Viktor set the fastest lap time of the weekend.
- I suppose delivery in two days is pretty fast, really.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- able to do something quickly
- a fast learner
- Are you a fast reader with the ability to retain the key points?
- These are complex programs needing very large and fast computers.
- a fast internet connection
- producing or allowing quick movement
- It's a very fast road and people do not realize what speed they are doing.
- [not before noun] showing a time later than the true time
- I'm early—my watch must be fast.
- That clock's ten minutes fast.
- (specialist) very sensitive to light, and therefore useful when taking photographs in poor light or of something that is moving very quickly
- (of a boat, etc.) safely fixed in position
- He made the boat fast.
- not likely to change or to come out when washed see also colour fast There is no noun related to fast. Use speed in connection with vehicles, actions, etc.; quickness is used about thinking.
quick
surface
watch/clock
photographic film
fixed
colours in clothes
Word Originadjective Old English fæst ‘firmly fixed, steadfast’ and fæste ‘firmly’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vast and German fest ‘firm, solid’ and fast ‘almost’. In Middle English the adverb developed the senses ‘strongly, vigorously’ (compare with run hard), and ‘close, immediate’ (just surviving in the archaic fast by; compare with hard by), hence ‘closely, immediately’ and ‘quickly’; the idea of rapid movement was then reflected in adjectival use.
Idioms
be fast/quick on the draw
- (informal) to be quick to understand or react in a new situation
- You can't fool him—he's always fast on the draw.
- to be quick at pulling out a gun in order to shoot it
be quick/fast on the draw
- (informal) to be quick to understand or react in a new situation
- You can't fool him—he's always quick on the draw.
- to be quick at pulling out a gun in order to shoot it
fast and furious
- (of films/movies, shows, etc.) full of rapid action and sudden changes
- In his latest movie, the action is fast and furious.
More Like This Alliteration in idiomsAlliteration in idioms- belt and braces
- black and blue
- born and bred
- chalk and cheese
- chop and change
- done and dusted
- down and dirty
- in dribs and drabs
- eat somebody out of house and home
- facts and figures
- fast and furious
- first and foremost
- forgive and forget
- hale and hearty
- hem and haw
- kith and kin
- mix and match
- part and parcel
- puff and pant
- to rack and ruin
- rant and rave
- risk life and limb
- short and sweet
- signed and sealed
- spic and span
- through thick and thin
- this and that
- top and tail
- tried and tested
- wax and wane
a fast talker
- a person who can talk very quickly and easily, but who cannot always be trusted
- As a politician, she had the reputation for being a real fast talker.
a fast worker
- (informal) a person who knows how to get what they want quickly, especially when beginning a sexual relationship with somebody
hard and fast
- (especially after a negative) that cannot be changed in any circumstances
- There are no hard and fast rules about this.
- This situation isn’t hard and fast.
make a fast/quick buck
- (informal, often disapproving) to earn money quickly and easily
- This is a long-term project. We are not out to make a quick buck.
pull a fast one (on somebody)
- (slang) to trick somebody