rapid

[rap-id]

adjective

rapider, rapidest 

1. occurring within a short time; happening speedily.

   rapid growth.

2. moving or acting with great speed; swift.

   a rapid worker.

3. characterized by speed.

   rapid motion.

noun

1. Usually rapids a part of a river where the current runs very swiftly.

rapid

/ ˈræpɪd, rəˈpɪdɪtɪ /

adjective

1. (of an action or movement) performed or occurring during a short interval of time; quick

   a rapid transformation

2. characterized by high speed

   rapid movement

3. acting or moving quickly; fast

   a rapid worker

Other Word Forms

• rapidly adverb
• ultrarapid adjective
• rapidity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rapid¹

First recorded in 1625–35, rapid is from the Latin word rapidus “tearing away, seizing, swift”; rape ¹, -id ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of rapid¹

C17: from Latin rapidus tearing away, from rapere to seize; see _rape ¹

Synonym Study

See quick.

Example Sentences

With such a rapid turnover of residents, no one in the building now remembers what happened in those early months of the war.

From BBC

Josh Hazlewood has his own recent fitness problems and the rapid Lance Morris is out for a year.

From BBC

The image of Nigel Farage has loomed over this party conference season, as the established parties scramble to come up with a response to the rapid rise of Reform UK.

From BBC

AI tools that can create fully-formed videos from simple text prompts by users have made rapid advances in recent years.

From BBC

Some smaller African nations have seen even more rapid growth with Algeria increasing imports 33-fold, Zambia eightfold and Botswana sevenfold.

From BBC

Related Words

• accelerated www.thesaurus.com
• breakneck 
• brisk 
• expeditious 
• fast 
• hasty 
• speedy 
• swift