speed
speed
Speed (noun) means How fast something moves, or the rate at which something happens. Example: “Drivers must reduce their speed near the school gates.”
noun
1
How fast something moves, or the rate at which something happens.
"Drivers must reduce their speed near the school gates."
"The train reached a top speed of 200 miles per hour."
"They increased the speed of production to meet demand."
2
Amphetamine, especially used as an illegal stimulant drug.
"The nurse explained that speed is an illegal drug and very risky."
"He told the group how speed had harmed his health."
"He admitted he used to take speed to stay awake on long shifts."
verb
1
To go fast, or to drive faster than the legal limit.
"The cyclist sped down the hill without touching the brakes."
"She was fined for speeding on the motorway."
"The ambulance sped through the empty streets."
How to use speed
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHow quickly something moves or happens; also slang for amphetamine.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
top speed
speed limit
pick up speed
at full speed
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Word forms
- Plural
- speeds
- Third person singular
- speeds
- Past tense
- sped, speeded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Drivers must reduce their _____ near the school gates.
Etymology
From Old English spēd ("success, prosperity"). Originally meant "good luck" or "success" — the "fast movement" sense developed later, still visible in the old phrase "Godspeed."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for speed
See all rhymes for speed →Frequently asked questions
What does “speed” mean?
The word “speed” means how fast something moves, or the rate at which something happens. In plain terms, how quickly something moves or happens; also slang for amphetamine.
How do you pronounce “speed”?
“Speed” is pronounced speed (/spiːd/ in IPA).
How do you use “speed” in a sentence?
Here is “speed” used in a sentence: “The train reached a top speed of 200 miles per hour.”
What is another word for “speed”?
Words with a similar meaning to “speed” include velocity.
What part of speech is “speed”?
Depending on how it is used, “speed” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “speed” come from?
The word “speed” comes from Old English. From Old English spēd ("success, prosperity"). Originally meant "good luck" or "success" — the "fast movement" sense developed later, still visible in the old phrase "Godspeed.".
Is “speed” a common word?
“Speed” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “speed” have?
“Speed” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: how fast something moves, or the rate at which something happens.
What is the difference between speed and velocity?
In everyday use they mean the same thing, but in physics they differ. Speed measures only how fast something moves, with no direction. Velocity measures how fast and in which direction, making it a directional quantity. A car going 30 mph has a speed; the same car heading north at 30 mph has a velocity.
How is speed measured?
Speed is measured as distance travelled divided by the time taken, giving units like miles per hour, kilometres per hour, or metres per second. A speedometer shows a vehicle's speed directly. In science, average speed covers a whole journey, while instantaneous speed is how fast something is moving at a single moment.
What is the opposite of speed?
There is no single perfect opposite, but slowness is the closest — a low rate of movement. Words like sluggishness and delay also contrast with speed when something moves or happens slowly. In physics, a lower speed simply means covering less distance in the same amount of time.
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