fast

UK /fɑːst/ US /fɑːst/

adj 6noun 6adv 5verb 3name 2

Definitions

adj

Firmly or securely fixed in place; stable.

That rope is dangerously loose. Make it fast!

Firm against attack; fortified by nature or art; impregnable; strong.

out-lawes […] lurking in woods and fast places

Steadfast, with unwavering feeling. (Now mostly in set phrases like fast friend(s).)

I still hear you sayin', "Dear one, hold me fast"

Moving with great speed, or capable of doing so; swift, rapid; light.

I am going to buy a fast car.

Moving with great speed, or capable of doing so; swift, rapid; light.

Plutonium-240 has a much higher fission cross-section for fast neutrons than for thermal neutrons.

noun

A train that calls at only some stations it passes between its origin and destination, typically just the principal stations.

intj

Ellipsis of stand fast, a warning not to pass between the arrow and the target.

Collocations

(adj., adv.)

VERBS

be, seem

The internet connection at my office is always too fast for the old equipment to handle.

ADV

exceptionally, extremely, really, remarkably, surprisingly, very

She was remarkably fast at solving the puzzle and finished before anyone else.

a bit, fairly, a little, pretty, quite, reasonably, relatively

The internet connection at my new apartment is reasonably fast for streaming videos.

amazingly, blindingly, incredibly, unbelievably

The internet connection was incredibly fast during the download.

dangerously

(adj., adv.)

VERBS

be, seem

The internet connection is fast enough to stream movies without buffering.

ADV

exceptionally, extremely, really, remarkably, surprisingly, very

The new computer processes data extremely fast, which saves us hours every week.

a bit, fairly, a little, pretty, quite, reasonably, relatively

The internet connection at my new apartment is reasonably fast for streaming videos.

amazingly, blindingly, incredibly, unbelievably

She was driving incredibly fast down the highway when the police officer stopped her.

dangerously

(noun.)

ADJ

long

brief

VERB + FAST

go on, keep, observe

During Ramadan, many Muslims observe fast from sunrise to sunset each day.

break

After sleeping for twelve hours, she woke up hungry and broke her fast with a big breakfast.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — abstaining from food

fasting

adjective — securely fixed in place

adjective — hurried and brief

adjective — unrestrained by convention or morality

adverb — firmly or closely

tight

Antonyms

slow

Idioms & Phrases

pull a fast one

To carry out a trick or act of deception; to behave contrary to expectations.

This isn't worth anything like what you paid them. I think they pulled a fast one on you.

fast asleep

Sleeping, in a deep sleep.

play fast and loose

To ignore proper behavior or social conventions, especially when it suits one's purpose.

I cannot say that there were any outright lies in the editorial, but it does play fast and loose with the truth.

in the fast lane

In a lifestyle, employment position, or other set of circumstances where the rapid pace is exciting, frantic, or risky.

For baby-boomer parents, life without kids often feels like suddenly slamming on the brakes after years in the fast lane.

not so fast

Used to tell someone to cease doing something or to call into question what someone has said.

Example Bank

That rope is dangerously loose. Make it fast!

Wiktionary

out-lawes […] lurking in woods and fast places

Wiktionary

I still hear you sayin', "Dear one, hold me fast"

Wiktionary

Hold this rope as fast as you can.

Wiktionary

Do as I bid you, ſhut doores after you, Faſt binde, faſt finde, A Prouerbe neuer ſtale in thrifty minde.

Wiktionary

Nine hundred of the ſtrongeſt Men were employed to draw up theſe Cords by many Pulleys faſtned on the Poles, and thus, in leſs than three Hours, I was raiſed and flung into the Engine, and there tyed

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, fast is marked as dated, British. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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