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
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overspeedinessnoun
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speedinessnoun
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unspeedinessnoun
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overspeedyadjective
-
unspeedyadjective
-
overspeedilyadverb
-
speedilyadverb
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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
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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.
See Examples For:
He said little during the brief hearing other than telling the judge that he understood his right to a speedy preliminary hearing and that he pleaded not guilty.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
And sloppy thinking does not help lead us to a speedy resolution of Social Security’s financial challenges.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 6, 2026
"We wish all those who sustained injuries a speedy recovery, and safe journey back home to everyone," the spokesperson said.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
These traders often look to profit from fleeting differences in asset prices, making speedy response times crucial.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Bertha was the speedy but dimwitted ostrich who had been left at Ashton Place by a fascinating but dishonest explorer named Admiral Faucet, a friend of Lord Fredrick’s mother.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
And because they are smaller and speedier, they also pump less heat into your kitchen.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
When rookie left fielder Ryan Ward walked in the seventh inning, the speedier and more defensively sound Alex Call replaced him on the bases.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 5, 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
FedEx FDX -0.86%decrease; red down pointing triangle is teaming up with last-mile delivery provider OneRail to offer same-day delivery service, on the heels of Amazon’s recent launch of speedier delivery options.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 24, 2026
He suggested to Garfield that his wife would have a speedier recovery in the cool sea breezes of New Jersey away from the stifling heat and humidity of Washington.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
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
Guyton is the speediest of the Chargers’ wideouts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2023
It also oversaw one of the speediest efforts in the nation among large cities to utilize Emergency Housing Vouchers, a pandemic-era federal program created to quickly move people from the streets into housing.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 8, 2023
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
“I’m the twenty-fourth speediest typist in the class.”
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
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.
