Meaning & use

swift

adjective·Everyday

Happening, moving, or capable of moving very quickly.

See it in a sentence

The lifeguard's swift response saved the swimmer before the current pulled her further out.

A swift decision from the board ended weeks of uncertainty among the staff.

A note on using this word

Swift often implies gracefulness alongside speed, unlike 'fast', which is more neutral and purely about velocity.

Words with a similar meaning

rapidfastspeedy

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. noun

A small, fast-flying bird related to the swallow, known for spending most of its life airborne.

A pair of swifts nested under the eaves of the old barn every spring.

Make it your own

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