fast

[ fast, fahst ]

/ fæst, fɑst /

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See synonyms for: fast / faster / fastest / fasting on Thesaurus.com

adjective, fast·er, fast·est.

moving or able to move, operate, function, or take effect quickly; quick; swift; rapid: a fast horse;a fast pain reliever;a fast thinker.

done in comparatively little time; taking a comparatively short time: a fast race;fast work.

(of time)

indicating a time in advance of the correct time, as of a clock.
noting or according to daylight-saving time.

adapted to, allowing, productive of, or imparting rapid movement: a hull with fast lines;one of the fastest pitchers in baseball.

characterized by unrestrained conduct or lack of moral conventions, especially in sexual relations; wanton; loose: Some young people in that era were considered fast, if not downright promiscuous.

characterized by hectic activity: leading a fast life.

resistant: acid-fast.

firmly fixed in place; not easily moved; securely attached.

held or caught firmly, so as to be unable to escape or be extricated: an animal fast in a trap.

firmly tied, as a knot.

closed and made secure, as a door, gate, or shutter.

such as to hold securely: to lay fast hold on a thing.

firm in adherence; loyal; devoted: fast friends.

permanent, lasting, or unchangeable: a fast color;a hard and fast rule.

Informal.

(of money, profits, etc.) made quickly or easily and sometimes deviously: He earned some fast change helping the woman with her luggage.
cleverly quick and manipulative in making money: a fast operator when it comes to closing a business deal.

Photography.

(of a lens) able to transmit a relatively large amount of light in a relatively short time.
(of a film) requiring a relatively short exposure time to attain a given density.

Horse Racing.

(of a track condition) completely dry.
(of a track surface) very hard.

adverb, fast·er, fast·est.

quickly, swiftly, or rapidly.

in quick succession: Events followed fast upon one another to the crisis.

tightly; firmly: to hold fast.

soundly: fast asleep.

in a wild or dissipated way.

ahead of the correct or announced time.

Archaic. close; near: fast by.

noun

a fastening for a door, window, or the like.

OTHER WORDS FOR fast

1, 2 fleet, speedy.

5 dissipated, dissolute, profligate, immoral; wild; prodigal.

8 secure, tight, immovable, firm.

9 inextricable.

13 faithful, steadfast.

14 enduring.

20 securely, fixedly, tenaciously.

22 recklessly, wildly, prodigally.

See synonyms for fast on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR fast

1, 2 slow.

5, 6 restrained.

8 loose.

See antonyms for fast on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about fast

play fast and loose. play (def. 80).

pull a fast one, Informal. to play an unfair trick; practice deceit: He tried to pull a fast one on us by switching the cards.

Origin of fast

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English fæst “firm”; cognate with Dutch vast, Old Norse fastr “firm,” German fest; akin to fast²

synonym study for fast

1, 2. See quick.

Other definitions for fast (2 of 3)

fast²

[ fast, fahst ]

/ fæst, fɑst /

verb (used without object)

to abstain from all food.

to eat only sparingly or of certain kinds of food, especially as a religious observance.

verb (used with object)

to cause to abstain entirely from or limit food; put on a fast: to fast a patient for a day before surgery.

noun

an abstinence from food, or a limiting of one's food, especially when voluntary and as a religious observance; fasting.

a day or period of fasting.

Origin of fast

First recorded before 1000; Middle English fasten, festen, Old English fæstan; cognate with German fasten, Gothic fastan, Old Norse fasta

OTHER WORDS FROM fast

un·fast·ing, adjective

Other definitions for fast (3 of 3)

fast³

[ fast, fahst ]

/ fæst, fɑst /

noun

a chain or rope for mooring a vessel.

Origin of fast

First recorded in 1670–80; alteration, by association with fast¹ (in the sense “firmly tied”), of late Middle English fest “fastening, mooring rope,” from Old Norse festr “mooring rope, cable,” from Old Norse fastr “fixed, firm”; cf. fasten, fast¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use fast in a sentence

Now, it is the most traditional and celebrated Christmas cake in Germany—and definitely not associated with fasting.
One Cake to Rule Them All: How Stollen Stole Our Hearts|Molly Hannon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Like Lent, the season of Advent was a period of reflection and fasting, and items such as dairy and sugar were forbidden.
One Cake to Rule Them All: How Stollen Stole Our Hearts|Molly Hannon|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And saints are a pretty svelte bunch, what with all the fasting and suffering.
Keep Christmas Commercialized!|P. J. O’Rourke|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
MORE FROM DAILYBURN: What 200 Calories of Nuts Looks Like [Infographic] Intermittent Fasting: Is It Right for You?
When Is It OK to Cheat? The Pros and Cons of Cheat Days|DailyBurn|July 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Since this hearing was taking place during Ramadan, many of the Muslims had been fasting since sunrise.
When Bigotry Comes to Your Hometown|Dean Obeidallah|July 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was exceedingly religious, and up to the time of his marriage had led a life devoted to prayer, fasting, and warfare.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
The prophet describes the judgments that shall fall upon the people, and invites them to fasting and prayer.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
The people inquire concerning fasting: they are admonished to fast from sin.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Trance and ecstasy were the two avenues he knew to divinity; fasting and seclusion the means employed to discover them.
The Myths of the New World|Daniel G. Brinton
The thing that strikes me,” began Roger, “is that he may be like those men sent to the house of God to inquire about fasting.
Growing Up|Jennie M. Drinkwater

British Dictionary definitions for fast (1 of 2)

fast¹

/ (fɑːst) /

adjective

acting or moving or capable of acting or moving quickly; swift

accomplished in or lasting a short timefast work; a fast visit

(prenominal) adapted to or facilitating rapid movementthe fast lane of a motorway

requiring rapidity of action or movementa fast sport

(of a clock, etc) indicating a time in advance of the correct time

given to an active dissipated life

of or characteristic of such activitya fast life

not easily moved; firmly fixed; secure

firmly fastened, secured, or shut

steadfast; constant (esp in the phrase fast friends)

sport (of a playing surface, running track, etc) conducive to rapid speed, as of a ball used on it or of competitors playing or racing on it

that will not fade or change colour readilya fast dye

proof against fadingthe colour is fast to sunlight
(in combination)washfast

photog

requiring a relatively short time of exposure to produce a given densitya fast film
permitting a short exposure timea fast shutter

cricket (of a bowler) characteristically delivering the ball rapidly

informal glib or unreliable; deceptivea fast talker

archaic sound; deepa fast sleep

informal a deceptive or unscrupulous trick (esp in the phrase pull a fast one)

fast worker a person who achieves results quickly, esp in seductions

adverb

quickly; rapidly

soundly; deeplyfast asleep

firmly; tightly

in quick succession

in advance of the correct timemy watch is running fast

in a reckless or dissipated way

fast by or fast beside archaic close or hard by; very near

play fast and loose informal to behave in an insincere or unreliable manner

interjection

archery (said by the field captain to archers) stop shooting!

Word Origin for fast

Old English fæst strong, tight; related to Old High German festi firm, Old Norse fastr

British Dictionary definitions for fast (2 of 2)

fast²

/ (fɑːst) /

verb

(intr) to abstain from eating all or certain foods or meals, esp as a religious observance

noun

an act or period of fasting
(as modifier)a fast day

Derived forms of fast

faster, noun

Word Origin for fast

Old English fæstan; related to Old High German fastēn to fast, Gothic fastan

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with fast

fast

In addition to the idioms beginning with fast

fast and furious
fast and loose
fast buck
fast lane
fast track

also see:

get nowhere (fast)
hard and fast
pull a fast one
stand one's ground (fast)
thick and fast

fast

OTHER WORDS FOR fast

OPPOSITES FOR fast

Idioms about fast

Origin of fast

synonym study for fast

Other definitions for fast (2 of 3)

Origin of fast

OTHER WORDS FROM fast

Other definitions for fast (3 of 3)

Origin of fast

Words related to fast

How to use fast in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for fast (1 of 2)

Word Origin for fast

British Dictionary definitions for fast (2 of 2)

Derived forms of fast

Word Origin for fast

Other Idioms and Phrases with fast