Fast Quick Fastest Quickly Time Situation Hard Adjective

• a fast car/horse
• he's just become the world's fastest runner.
• we've recorded the fastest rate of increase for several years.
• we can guarantee a fast response time.

fast

1. moving or able to move quickly
• a fast car/horse
• He's just become the world's fastest runner.

Extra Examples

• Her pulse seemed very fast.
• She loves driving fast cars.
2. happening in a short time or without delay
• NOTE AT quick
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/quick_2#quick_topg_2
• We've recorded the fastest rate of increase for several years.
• We can guarantee a fast response time.
• Technology was expanding at a fast pace.
• a period of fast economic growth

Extra Examples

• I should make a very fast profit on these.
• Viktor set the fastest lap time of the weekend.
• I suppose delivery in two days is pretty fast, really.
3. able to do something quickly
• a fast learner
• Are you a fast reader with the ability to retain the key points?
• These are complex programs needing very large and fast computers.
• a fast internet connection
4. producing or allowing quick movement
• SEE ALSO fast lane
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/fast-lane
• It's a very fast road and people do not realize what speed they are doing.
5. showing a time later than the true time
• I'm early—my watch must be fast.
• That clock's ten minutes fast.
6. very sensitive to light, and therefore useful when taking photographs in poor light or of something that is moving very quickly
7. safely fixed in position
• He made the boat fast.
8. not likely to change or to come out when washed
• SEE ALSO colour fast
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/colour-fast
9. to be quick to understand or react in a new situation
• You can't fool him—he's always fast on the draw.
10. to be quick at pulling out a gun in order to shoot it
11. to be quick to understand or react in a new situation
• You can't fool him—he's always quick on the draw.
12. to be quick at pulling out a gun in order to shoot it
13. full of rapid action and sudden changes
• In his latest movie, the action is fast and furious.
14. a person who can talk very quickly and easily, but who cannot always be trusted
• As a politician, she had the reputation for being a real fast talker.
15. a person who knows how to get what they want quickly, especially when beginning a sexual relationship with somebody
16. that cannot be changed in any circumstances
• There are no hard and fast rules about this.
• This situation isn’t hard and fast.
17. to earn money quickly and easily
• This is a long-term project. We are not out to make a quick buck.
18. to trick somebody

Word Origin

• adjective Old English fæst ‘firmly fixed, steadfast’ and fæste ‘firmly’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vast and German fest ‘firm, solid’ and fast ‘almost’. In Middle English the adverb developed the senses ‘strongly, vigorously’ (compare with run hard), and ‘close, immediate’ (just surviving in the archaic fast by; compare with hard by), hence ‘closely, immediately’ and ‘quickly’; the idea of rapid movement was then reflected in adjectival use.