speed

1 of 2

noun

ˈspēd

Synonyms of speed next

: rate of motion: such as

(1)

: velocity sense 1

(2)

: the magnitude of a velocity irrespective of direction

: the act or state of moving swiftly : swiftness

: impetus

: swiftness or rate of performance or action : velocity sense 3a

: the sensitivity of a photographic film, plate, or paper expressed numerically

: the time during which a camera shutter is open

: the light-gathering power of a lens or optical system

: a transmission gear in automotive vehicles or bicycles

—usually used in combination

a ten-speed bicycle

: someone or something that appeals to one's taste

just my speed

: methamphetamine

also : a related stimulant drug and especially an amphetamine

archaic : prosperity in an undertaking : success

speedster

ˈspēd-stər

noun

speed

2 of 2

verb

sped ˈsped

or speeded; speeding

intransitive verb

: to make haste

sped to her bedside

: to go or drive at excessive or illegal speed

: to move, work, or take place faster : accelerate

the heart speeds up

archaic : to prosper in an undertaking

archaic : get along, fare

transitive verb

: to cause to move quickly : hasten

: to increase the speed of : accelerate

: to wish Godspeed to

: to further the success of

archaic : to cause or help to prosper : aid

: to send out

speed an arrow

speeder noun

Phrases

at speed

chiefly British

: fast, rapidly

up to speed

: operating at full effectiveness or potential

Choose the Right Synonym for speed

haste, hurry, speed, expedition, dispatch mean quickness in movement or action.

haste applies to personal action and implies urgency and precipitancy and often rashness.

marry in haste

hurry often has a strong suggestion of agitated bustle or confusion.

in the hurry of departure she forgot her toothbrush

speed suggests swift efficiency in movement or action.

exercises to increase your reading speed

expedition and dispatch both imply speed and efficiency in handling affairs but expedition stresses ease or efficiency of performance and dispatch stresses promptness in concluding matters.

the case came to trial with expedition

paid bills with dispatch

Examples of speed in a Sentence

Noun This instrument measures wind speed. The machine was operating at high speed. traveling at nearly the speed of light Under the right conditions the car can reach speeds over 200 miles an hour. The vehicle maintained a speed of 40 miles per hour. The work was done with remarkable speed. This computer works at a much faster processing speed than my old one. The machine chops up tree branches and leaves with speed and ease. Verb A group of kids sped past us on their bikes. They jumped in the car and sped away. A car was speeding down the street. An ambulance sped her to the hospital. I got pulled over twice last month because I was speeding on the highway.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

Total Wireless has also introduced unlimited data on Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network that promises to be up to 10 times faster than the median download speeds of all other providers. —

Molly Higgins, WIRED, 23 Nov. 2024 The first practice session was halted barely eight minutes in after a loose concrete frame around a water valve cover hit Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari at high speed. —

Dan Cancian, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

Verb

Formula 1 is speeding back to Las Vegas this weekend, and prolific Dutchman Max Verstappen—who holds a 62-point lead over Lando Norris—could wrap up his fourth straight championship. —

Nasha Smith, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024 Keep them away from any fruits and vegetables that naturally emit ethylene, a gas that speeds up ripening of anything in their orbit. —

Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for speed

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English sped, speede, spede "luck, fortune, good fortune, success, assistance, benefit, rate of motion or progress," going back to Old English spēd "luck, success, riches, opportunity, power," spēdum (dative plural used adverbially) "swiftly," going back to West Germanic *spōdi- (whence also Old Saxon spōd "success, advantage," Middle Dutch spoed "prosperity, progress, haste," Old High German spuot "quickness, velocity"), derivative with the abstract noun suffix -ti- from the base of *spōan- "to succeed" (whence Old English spōwan "to succeed, thrive" [Class VII strong verb], Middle Dutch spoen "to strive," Old High German spuoen "to succeed"), going back to an o-grade derivative of the Indo-European verbal base *speh₁- "thrive, prosper," whence also Old Church Slavic spějǫ, spěti "to have success," Lithuanian spė́ju, spė́ti "to manage (to do something)," Sanskrit sphā́yate "(s/he) grows fat, increases," Hittite išpāi "(s/he) gets full, is satiated"; as nominal derivatives Latin spēs "hope" (< *speh₁-), Latin prosperus "agreeable to one's wishes, successful, prosperous," Old Russian sporŭ "abundant," Sanskrit sphiráḥ "fat" (< *sph₁-ró-)

Verb

Middle English speden "to succeed, fare, assist, travel swiftly," going back to Old English spēdan, gespēdan "to have success, succeed, prosper," verbal derivative of spēd "luck, success" — more at speed entry 1

Note: Parallel Germanic formations are Old Saxon spōdian "to further, promote" and Old High German gispuoten "to make thrive."

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3a

Time Traveler

The first known use of speed was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing speed

Cite this Entry

Style

“Speed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/speed. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

speed

1 of 2 noun

ˈspēd

: the act or state of moving swiftly : swiftness

: rate of motion : velocity

: quickness in movement or action

: a transmission gear in motor vehicles or bicycles

a 10-speed bicycle

: methamphetamine

also : a related drug

speed

2 of 2 verb

sped ˈsped

or speeded; speeding

: to move or cause to move fast

: to go or drive at too high a speed

: to increase the speed of : accelerate

—often used with up

Medical Definition

speed

noun

ˈspēd

: methamphetamine

also : a related stimulant drug and especially an amphetamine

Last Updated: 27 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

eschew

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

speed

noun

verb

Synonyms

Examples of speed in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near speed

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition