rapid
6 synonyms and 2 antonyms for rapid, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Happening or moving very quickly.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use rapid
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
rapid growth
rapid decline
rapid response
rapid pace
Etymology
From Latin rapidus, "hurried, seizing," from rapere, "to snatch or seize" — the same root that gives us rapture and rapacious.
Full origin of rapid →Frequently asked questions
What does “rapid” mean?
The word “rapid” means happening or moving very quickly. In plain terms, fast; happening in a short amount of time.
How do you pronounce “rapid”?
“Rapid” is pronounced RA-pihd (/ˈɹæpɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “rapid” in a sentence?
Here is “rapid” used in a sentence: “The company saw rapid growth over the last two years.”
What part of speech is “rapid”?
“Rapid” is an adjective.
Where does the word “rapid” come from?
The word “rapid” comes from Latin. From Latin rapidus, "hurried, seizing," from rapere, "to snatch or seize" — the same root that gives us rapture and rapacious.
Is “rapid” a common word?
“Rapid” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between rapid, fast, and quick?
All three describe speed, but they attach to different things. Fast usually describes moving objects or people (a fast car), quick often stresses short duration (a quick reply), and rapid typically describes the pace of processes or changes, as in rapid growth or rapid decline. Rapid also sounds more formal and is common in technical and journalistic writing.
When should you use rapid instead of rapidly?
Rapid is an adjective, so it modifies nouns: a rapid response, rapid change. Rapidly is the adverb, so it modifies verbs: the disease spread rapidly. Saying "it spread rapid" is a common mistake; use rapidly whenever you are describing how an action happens.
What are common collocations with rapid?
Rapid pairs most naturally with nouns describing change or motion over time: rapid growth, rapid change, rapid decline, rapid expansion, rapid progress, and rapid heartbeat. Phrases like rapid response and at a rapid pace are also very frequent. These collocations reflect the core meaning of rapid: happening or moving very quickly.
