verb Uncommon

sped

spehd

Sped (verb) means past tense of "speed": moved quickly, or increased in speed. Example: “The ambulance sped through the red light with its sirens blaring.”

verb

Past tense of "speed": moved quickly, or increased in speed.

"The ambulance sped through the red light with its sirens blaring."

"Production sped up once the new machines arrived."

How to Use Sped

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe past-tense form of "speed" — went fast or made something go faster.

Common mistake

In casual slang, "sped" is sometimes used as a noun for a special-education student; this usage is widely considered offensive and should be avoided.

Common pairings

sped past sped up sped away

Word Forms

speds plural

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The ambulance _____ through the red light with its sirens blaring.

Rhymes for sped

ped moped caped typed doped piped hyped amped coped warped hopped tapped

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “sped” mean?

The word “sped” means past tense of "speed": moved quickly, or increased in speed. In plain terms, the past-tense form of "speed" — went fast or made something go faster.

How do you pronounce “sped”?

“Sped” is pronounced spehd (/spɛd/ in IPA).

How do you use “sped” in a sentence?

Here is “sped” used in a sentence: “The ambulance sped through the red light with its sirens blaring.”

What part of speech is “sped”?

“Sped” is a verb.

Is “sped” a common word?

“Sped” is an uncommon word in modern English.