speedy
Americanadjective
-
speedier,
comparative
-
speediest
superlative
-
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
Derived Forms
-
overspeedinessnoun
-
speedinessnoun
-
unspeedinessnoun
-
overspeedyadjective
-
unspeedyadjective
-
overspeedilyadverb
-
speedilyadverb
-
unspeedilyadverb
Inflected Forms
Adjectives
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Fast
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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:
October has also been an ugly month for the sector but this time around, JPMorgan’s global strategy team does not anticipate a recovery anywhere near as speedy and emphatic.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026
Fast-charging electric vehicles for speedy family road trips.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026
But the planning now is interspersed with prayers for a speedy post-surgery recovery that would allow him to make good on his plans.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
However, as a very close bystander to the event, he feels there has to be a speedy resolution.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
He is so speedy, so wily, that mall workers long ago gave up trying to catch him.
From "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate
Those travellers already go through a pre-approval process with the US government in order to receive speedier security screening at US airports.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
And because they are smaller and speedier, they also pump less heat into your kitchen.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Instead of undergoing Tommy John surgery, when a torn ligament is replaced entirely, Atlanta Braves ace Spencer Strider underwent a new procedure that uses an internal brace and can lead to a speedier recovery.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
Amazon is experimenting with speedier delivery across its network as it competes with longtime rival Walmart and delivery upstarts such as Uber and DoorDash.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 22, 2026
Thus, tiny devices that can travel along capillaries to enter and repair living tissue; the ability to heal disease, reverse the ravages of age, or make human bodies speedier and stronger than before.
From "Geeks: How Two Lost Boys Rode the Internet Out of Idaho" by Jon Katz
It can be the speediest option at the airport, on par or better than Clear, in part because travelers are still learning about it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026
In the first half, this pattern occurred but it was Kane making the run in behind and, for all of his quality, he is not the speediest.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026
Companies will often choose the speediest delivery for you, but you can sometimes switch to slower delivery when you’re checking out.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 25, 2022
In Week 3, the Chargers lost their speediest outside threat in Jalen Guyton, who suffered a season-ending knee injury.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2022
“I’m the twenty-fourth speediest typist in the class.”
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
