rapid

adjective

ˈra-pəd How to pronounce rapid (audio)
Definition of rapidnext
as in quick
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed the rapid descent of the roller coaster made me feel very queasy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective rapid contrast with its synonyms?

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.

rapid current

When would expeditious be a good substitute for rapid?

Although the words expeditious and rapid have much in common, expeditious suggests efficiency together with rapidity of accomplishment.

the expeditious handling of an order

How are the words fast and rapid related?

Both fast and rapid are very close in meaning, but fast applies particularly to the thing that moves.

fast horses

When is it sensible to use fleet instead of rapid?

The meanings of fleet and rapid largely overlap; however, fleet adds the implication of lightness and nimbleness.

fleet runners

In what contexts can hasty take the place of rapid?

While in some cases nearly identical to rapid, hasty suggests hurry and precipitousness and often connotes carelessness.

a hasty inspection

Where would quick be a reasonable alternative to rapid?

The synonyms quick and rapid are sometimes interchangeable, but quick suggests promptness and the taking of little time.

a quick wit

When can speedy be used instead of rapid?

In some situations, the words speedy and rapid are roughly equivalent. However, speedy implies quickness of successful accomplishment and may also suggest unusual velocity.

speedy delivery of mail

When might swift be a better fit than rapid?

The words swift and rapid are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 rapid Since the incident, 8-year-old Star began experiencing pneumonia, digestion issues and rapid weight loss, Whitehead told the Associated Press on March 13. —Angel Saunders, People.com, 8 Apr. 2025 As their brains undergo a rapid period of growth and development, teens need 9-10 hours of sleep per night. —Georgia Christakis, Sun Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025 Nearby, his father Scott proudly watched his 39-year-old son culminate his rapid rise to the top of the sport. —Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025 By 540 million years ago, the Cambrian explosion was underway — a rapid diversification of life that saw the emergence of complex multicellular organisms, predatory behavior and the foundations of modern ecosystems. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rapid
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rapid
  1. quick
  2. brisk
  3. fast
  4. swift
  5. galloping
  6. speedy
Adjective
  • Here’s a quick roundup of the latest news from leading denim brands.
    — Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Adebayo’s early scoring gave the Heat a quick 9-0 lead, and the Grizzlies did not score until 9:35 in the first quarter.
    — Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of quick
Adjective
  • Warhol is a brisk dip in self-deprecating self-examination.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Monday’s weather for the A’s first home game was unseasonably cool with rain earlier in the day and game-time temperature a brisk 52 degrees with some light wind.
    — Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of brisk
Adjective
  • But the plan can allow for faster loan forgiveness for certain borrowers who initially took out relatively small student loan amounts.
    — Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • However, Fisher feels confident that Grand Slam Track will allow the fastest runners to race against each other more regularly, as well as being a way to crown the world’s best athletes in a season-long competition outside of the Olympics and World Athletics Championships.
    — George Ramsay, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of fast
Adjective
  • Crisis Planning As new challenges come afoot, is the company’s crisis communication plan updated to deliver a swift response?
    — Andrea Aker, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Be swift with SwiftScan VIP's lifetime subscription access to the app and scanning tools, now just $41.99 (reg.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of swift
Adjective
  • As his health faded in the last year of his life, Neruda rushed to finish his story, which gives the last chapters of his book a galloping, fragmented quality.
    — Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 25 June 2021
  • The artist was in Times Square last week to offer his latest corrective, unveiling a massive bronze statue of a young African American man in urban streetwear sitting astride a galloping horse.
    — NBC News, NBC News, 7 Oct. 2019
Definition of galloping
Adjective
  • Isaacman’s confirmation hearing - set to be live-streamed and chaired by Senator Ted Cruz, a powerful booster of NASA’s space advances - could lead to speedy approval by the full Senate for his ascent to head the globe’s premier aerospace agency.
    — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • While officials insisted all 200-plus deportees who were sent to El Salvador on March 15 were members of the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), the AEA allowed speedy removal without a court hearing.
    — Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
Definition of speedy

Browse Nearby Words

rapes
rapid
rapid eye movement
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rapid.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rapid. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on rapid

Nglish: Translation of rapid for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)
See More

Popular

See More

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

8 Words with Fascinating Histories
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 Word Game 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?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a game of hangman on lined paper
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All