Meaning & use
fast-moving stream
Last updated
UK/ˌfɑːstˈmuːvɪŋ striːm/
US/ˌfæstˈmuːvɪŋ striːm/
Meaning
phrasecountable
a small river or flow of water that moves quickly.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a fast-moving stream' or 'fast-moving streams'. The hyphen is used when it comes before a noun.
Patterns
- a fast-moving stream
- fast-moving streams
The children were warned not to swim in the fast-moving stream.
A fast-moving stream can carry rocks and soil downstream.
We crossed the fast-moving stream on a narrow wooden bridge.
Word forms
| plural | fast-moving streams |
|---|
Common combinations
- cross a fast-moving stream
- It is dangerous to cross a fast-moving stream without a bridge.
- a fast-moving stream flows
- The fast-moving stream flows down from the mountains.
- a fast-moving stream carries something
- The fast-moving stream carries leaves and branches away.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rapid
- Use 'rapid' for a fast-moving stream in technical or formal writing, as in 'a rapid stream'.
- torrent
- A torrent is a very fast, powerful stream of water, often after heavy rain; it suggests more force than a fast-moving stream.
Opposites
slow-moving stream
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
A fast-moving stream has water that moves quickly, so it can be dangerous and knock you over. The other options contradict the meaning of 'fast-moving' or describe a dry or calm stream.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fast-moving stream”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.