rapidly

[rap-id-lee]

adverb

1. within a short period of time.

   There are thousands of languages spoken in the world today, but many of them are rapidly approaching obsolescence and extinction.

2. with great speed; swiftly.

   Bats are more likely than birds to detect rapidly spinning turbine blades and avoid flying into them.

Other Word Forms

• ultrarapidly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of rapidly¹

rapid ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

In the world of legal services ads, which have a history of pushing the envelope, some are concerned that the rapidly advancing AI makes it easier to skirt restrictions.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

At the heart of the giant galaxy M87 lies the black hole M87*, which contains a staggering six and a half billion solar masses and spins rapidly on its axis.

Read more on Science Daily

The flood rapidly refilled the basin, drowning the salt flats and restoring normal marine conditions in less than 100,000 years.

Read more on Science Daily

The county struggled to monitor rapidly unfolding events without streamlined coordination tools and operated with “unclear” and “outdated” policies and protocols when deciding when to send evacuation warnings and orders.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There is an expectation that these companies will then offer similar terms to their own suppliers, allowing funding to flow rapidly down the supply chain.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• briskly 
• expeditiously 
• fast 
• immediately 
• promptly 
• speedily www.thesaurus.com
• swiftly