rapid
Americanadjective
-
occurring within a short time; happening speedily.
rapid growth.
-
moving or acting with great speed; swift.
a rapid worker.
-
characterized by speed.
rapid motion.
noun
adjective
-
(of an action or movement) performed or occurring during a short interval of time; quick
a rapid transformation
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characterized by high speed
rapid movement
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acting or moving quickly; fast
a rapid worker
Synonym Usage
See quick.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of rapid
First recorded in 1625–35, rapid is from the Latin word rapidus “tearing away, seizing, swift”; see rape 1, -id 4
Explanation
Rapid means happening with great speed or in a brief period of time. Think of Rapid Eye Movement (REM sleep), when your eyes are darting back and forth quickly — trying to follow your fast-paced dreams. Rapid comes from the Latin word rapere, which means "to hurry away" or "to seize." If you are first to raise your hand in class with the correct answer, your teacher will be pleased with your rapid response. Your pulse may be rapid after you run a quick sprint, and after a rapid run-up in the stock market you may decide to sell some shares and lock in the profit.
Vocabulary lists containing rapid
Name On: Pro Sports Team Names, Part 2
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A Need for Speed: Synonyms for "Fast"
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Beowulf vocabulary
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The rapid adoption of faster optical modules for AI data centers is driving a shift toward semiconductor-style manufacturing, helping expand the market to an estimated $45.4 billion by 2030 from $12.6 billion in 2025.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026
The boom in demand, however, was turbocharged by the rapid development of artificial-intelligence infrastructure in the last couple of years.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026
In truth, it was a disappointing and dispiriting spectacle, but Pakistan showed some fight with the ball, not least when rapid debutant Razaullah inflicted yet another lbw on Root to leave England 39-3.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Like many competitors, Inditex is also facing pressure from fast-fashion online retailers such as Shein, whose rapid growth has disrupted established apparel groups.
From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026
The rapid conviction, sentencing, and execution of the Lincoln assassination conspirators concluded the trial that had lasted through May and June.
From "Chasing Lincoln's Killer" by James L. Swanson
To overwrought nerves as were hers, the announcement was rapider in its effect than a microbe.
From Eden An Episode by Edgar Saltus
In the shallow streamlet of her lowly life the waters might have glided on, slow but smoothly, had he not taught them to be ambitious of a rapider, grander course.
From The American Senator by Anthony Trollope
That sort of thing came to the Roman Empire slowly, in the course of lifetimes, but nowadays we lived in a rapider world—with flimsier institutions.
From Mr. Britling Sees It Through by H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
“The ’80s in Korea was when we had the rapidest growth ever,” says Lee.
From Seattle Times ● May 20, 2022
For to-day and the States, I think the vividest, rapidest, most stupendous processes ever known, ever perform'd by man or nation, on the largest scales and in countless varieties, are now and here presented.
From Complete Prose Works Specimen Days and Collect, November Boughs and Goodbye My Fancy by Walt Whitman
What an audience—the rapidest, subtlest, wittiest, down to the very cobblers and tinkers, the world has ever seen.
From Lectures Delivered in America in 1874 by Charles Kingsley
In rapidest swing the original main motives now sing a joint verse in a kind of reprise, with the wild shriek at the end of the line, to a final crashing height.
From Symphonies and Their Meaning; Third Series, Modern Symphonies by Philip H. Goepp
What an audience! the rapidest, subtlest, wittiest, down to the very cobblers and tinkers, the world has ever seen.
From Literary and General Lectures and Essays by Charles Kingsley
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
