Moving fast

In this weekly post, we bring more useful content from the Macmillan Dictionary to English language learners. In this series of language tips to accompany the Real Vocabulary theme we look at how you can expand your vocabulary in English by using different words and expressions instead of core vocabulary items.

This set of language tips explores the words and phrases we use to describe movement. This week’s tip looks at adverbs and phrases that mean moving fast:

fast quickly:

• We drove as fast as we could to the hospital.
• She can’t run very fast.
• Concorde flew faster than the speed of sound.

quickly at a fast speed:

• She walked quickly along the drive.
• The river flows more quickly here.

briskly in a fast and energetic manner:

• He set off briskly but soon slowed down.

rapidly without delay or in a very short time:

• Changes to the program were rapidly made.

swiftly quickly:

• She started up the engine and drove swiftly away.
• He walked swiftly along the corridor and down the stairs.

speedily at a fast speed:

• I ran speedily back to the trail entrance and the safety of my car.

at high or top speed very fast, or as fast as possible:

• Rachel drove us home at high speed.
• The skaters move across the ice at top speed.

like a flash or quick as a flash or in a flash very quickly:

• She was at his side in a flash.
• The police stepped in quick as a flash to separate the two sides.

like lightning or at lightning speed very quickly:

• These guys move around at lightning speed.
• Mitch moved like lightning and caught her as she fell.

Did you know that Macmillan Dictionary includes a full thesaurus? This page lists more ways to say ‘moving fast‘.

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