fast 1 of 4

adverb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

fast

3 of 4

noun

as in famine

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

fast

4 of 4

verb

as in to diet

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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
Green, who won NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, is being asked to get down the floor faster and not trail the play. — Jessica Golden,alex Sherman, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2026 Word travelled fast around Netflix that the meeting had gone south, at which point sources said Bajaria called Gerwig’s producer Amy Pascal to smooth things over. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Losing the ability to fly fast drones, by contrast, hurts Ukraine right now—and hands Russia an immediate advantage in the skies. — Steven John, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026 Like the heroes of those films, Safdie is a native New Yorker and a very fast, very entertaining talker. — Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Noun
Noodle kugel is a natural at Rosh Hashanah, Shabbat, or the break-fast after Yom Kippur, but don’t limit it to the holidays. — Sarah Jampel, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026 Some experts eat right away, while others wait until later in the morning to break their fast. — Cathy Cassata, HEALTH, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
Will his addiction to fast driving undermine his commitment to providing affordable penile health care to residents of our nation’s capital? — Josh Gondelman, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2026 Most people can safely fast for Yom Kippur or other religious or cultural observances. — Reed Berger-Fleishman, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fast
  1. quickly
  2. quite
  3. rapid
  4. loyal
  5. tight
  6. deceptive
  7. sturdy
  8. short
Adverb
  • After a weak showing in Iowa, Ramaswamy ended his campaign and quickly folded into the broader MAGA-verse.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
  • And as the most recent press secretary found out, you can be fired from the position just as quickly as you were hired.
    — Chandelis Duster, NPR, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of quickly
Adverb
  • But now, as everything online morphs into algorithmic social media, the case for concern has crystallized into something quite specific.
    — Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Few sports have embraced the pursuit of new audiences quite like F1, the motorsport league acquired by Liberty Media nearly a decade ago.
    — Sam Jacobs, Time, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of quite
Adjective
  • This is the experience of some students in the state and it is being further complicated by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, rising college costs and limited exposure to jobs before graduation.
    — P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Their operational training regularly includes rapid rope insertions from heights of 100 feet or more.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of rapid
Adjective
  • Members who believe their institution is genuinely looking out for them tend to stay loyal.
    — Anand Solanki, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The brand’s distinctive designs, which feature minimalistic, clean, architectural shapes, have had a loyal following.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of loyal
Adjective
  • Certain oils can soften dry, flaky skin and help reduce moisture loss, which may be especially helpful if your scalp feels tight or dry after shampooing.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Republicans are fighting to hold on to the Texas Senate seat, as polls point to a tight race between Paxton and Democratic opponent James Talarico.
    — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of tight
Adjective
  • The Idaho Consumer Protection Act, enacted in 1971, protects consumers from false, deceptive or misleading representations, advertising, pricing and contracts.
    — Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2026
  • What Apple says about suspicious iMessages Apple says this type of deceptive messaging uses social engineering, a tactic in which scammers rely on impersonation and manipulation to persuade people to share personal information.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of deceptive
Adjective
  • The shoes balanced on a slender yet sturdy stiletto heel measuring around three inches.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The result has been sturdy economic growth, even as lower-income and even middle-income households have continued to struggle under stubborn inflation and declining earnings.
    — Rob Wile, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of sturdy
Adjective
  • Its filler entries are also quite chewy and enjoyable — a lot of short clues for long answers, especially running down.
    — Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Seminoles capitalize, take lead The Seminoles lead after an Ashton Daniels 28-yard TD to Quintrevion Wisner, capitalizing on the short field following Miami’s turnover on downs.
    — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of short

Browse Nearby Words

fashions
fast
fastback
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fast. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on fast

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fast

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of vocation

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All