speedy
Americanadjective
-
characterized by speed; rapid; swift; fast.
- Synonyms:
- quick
-
coming, given, or arrived at quickly or soon; prompt; not delayed.
a speedy recovery.
- Synonyms:
- expeditious
adjective
-
characterized by speed of motion
-
done or decided without delay; quick
Usage
What does speedy mean? Speedy is commonly used to mean prompt or with minimal delay. It’s often used in the phrase speedy recovery, meaning a prompt recovery from an illness or injury. Speedy also means very fast. In this sense, it’s often applied as a nickname for athletes who are very fast and quick. Example: I’d like to thank the customer service team for their speedy resolution to this issue.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of speedy
First recorded in 1325–75, speedy is from the Middle English word spedy. See speed, -y 1
Explanation
Speedy means super fast! If you're a speedy driver, you keep your foot on the gas pedal and zip by all the slowpokes. Speedy is also the nickname for a cartoon who is “the fastest mouse in Mexico.” Anything that's speedy moves with rapid speed, whether it's a bullet train or a waiter bringing coffee before you’ve even finished ordering it. If your brother sends you on an errand, he might call, "Be speedy!" especially if you're known for taking your time. The Old English root of speedy is spedig, which curiously means "wealthy." A now old fashioned meaning of "speed," in fact, was "success" or "prosperity.”
Vocabulary lists containing speedy
Fast
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Fast
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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.
Elon Musk has lost his court battle against OpenAI and Microsoft after months of legal back-and-forth culminated in a speedy trial.
From MarketWatch • May 18, 2026
But the channel proved its worth by providing speedy and continuous updates of stories like the assassination attempt on US President Ronald Reagan in 1981, and the Challenger space shuttle disaster in 1986.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
Newsom thanked the elections staff for their work and urged a speedy vote count.
From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026
The turn to third-party logistics providers has also been driven by rising customer expectations for speedy home delivery thanks to Amazon’s two-day delivery promise for its Prime members.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026
It is almost impossible to catch a speedy invisible model automobile even when one is a skillful dentist.
From "Stuart Little" by E.B. White
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.
