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• speed dial
  speed dial

  noun

  a telephone feature by which telephone numbers can be stored in memory and rapidly dialed by pressing an assigned button.
• speed-dial
  speed-dial

  verb (used with object)

  to dial (a telephone number) using speed dial.

speed dial

¹ American  

noun

1. a telephone feature by which telephone numbers can be stored in memory and rapidly dialed by pressing an assigned button.

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speed-dial ² American  

[speed-dahy-uhl, -dahyl] / ˈspidˌdaɪ əl, -ˌdaɪl /

verb (used with object)

speed-dialed, speed-dialing, speed-dialled, speed-dialling

1. to dial (a telephone number) using speed dial.

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Etymology

Origin of speed dial¹

First recorded in 1980–85

Origin of speed-dial²

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Which is why you should have an arborist on speed dial.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

Go forth and retire, and keep your accountant on speed dial.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 19, 2025

She also has a lawyer on speed dial.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2025

The Trade Commissioner said UK-EU relations were "definitely" in a better placeand his UK counterpart Nick Thomas-Symonds was "on speed dial".

From BBC • Jan. 22, 2025

I call him while running across the soccer field, holding down 1 to speed dial.

From "Will Grayson, Will Grayson" by John Green and David Levithan