Rapid — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈra-pəd/ rap·id

Meaning & Definition of Rapid

Rapid (adjective)

  1. marked by a fast rate of motion, activity, succession, or occurrence

Rapid (noun)

  1. a part of a river where the current is fast and the surface is usually broken by obstructions —usually used in plural but singular or plural in construction

Rapid (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed

    "the rapid descent of the roller coaster made me feel very queasy"

    similar: blistering, breakneck, breathless, brisk, dizzy, fast, fleet, fleet-footed, flying, galloping, hasty, hot, lightning, nippy, quick, rapid-fire, rattling, snappy, speedy, splitting, swift, whirlwind, zippy, at speed (chiefly British)
    related: expeditious, prompt, ready, accelerated, hastened, hurried, quickened, rushed, breathtaking, energetic, strenuous, strong, vigorous, high-speed, rush, ultrafast, ultrarapid
    opposite: slow
    near: crawling, dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, dragging, laggard, languid, lingering, plodding, poking, poky, slowish, sluggish, unhurried, deliberate, leisurely, measured, dilatory, late, tardy, ultraslow

Related Entry: Rapid-fire (adjective)

Rapid-fire is a different word from Rapid. The synonyms below are for rapid-fire, not for rapid.

  1. moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed

    "the witness stayed unruffled all through the prosecutor's rapid-fire questioning"

    similar: blistering, breakneck, breathless, brisk, dizzy, fast, fleet, fleet-footed, flying, galloping, hasty, hot, lightning, nippy, quick, rapid, rattling, snappy, speedy, splitting, swift, whirlwind, zippy, at speed (chiefly British)
    related: expeditious, prompt, ready, accelerated, hastened, hurried, quickened, rushed, breathtaking, energetic, strenuous, strong, vigorous, high-speed, rush, ultrafast, ultrarapid
    opposite: slow
    near: crawling, dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, dragging, laggard, languid, lingering, plodding, poking, poky, slowish, sluggish, unhurried, deliberate, leisurely, measured, dilatory, late, tardy, ultraslow

Related Entry: Rapid eye movement (noun)

Rapid eye movement is a different word from Rapid. The synonyms below are for rapid eye movement, not for rapid.

  1. as in dreaming

    similar: dreaming, oversleeping, catnap, doze, drowse, forty winks, nap, siesta, snooze, wink, bed, catnapping, dozing, napping, repose, rest, resting, shut-eye, sleep, slumber, slumbering, snoozing, z's
    opposite: consciousness, wake, wakefulness, insomnia, sleeplessness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Rapid

The most common words with a similar meaning to Rapid:

Chiefly British: at speed
blistering, breakneck, breathless, brisk, dizzy, fast, fleet, fleet-footed, flying, galloping, hasty, hot, lightning, nippy, quick, rapid-fire, rattling, snappy, speedy, splitting, swift, whirlwind, zippy

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Rapid

Words with the opposite meaning of Rapid:

slow

Related Words for Rapid

expeditious, prompt, ready, accelerated, hastened, hurried, quickened, rushed, breathtaking, energetic, strenuous, strong, vigorous, high-speed, rush, ultrafast, ultrarapid

Near Antonyms of Rapid

crawling, dallying, dawdling, dillydallying, dragging, laggard, languid, lingering, plodding, poking, poky, slowish, sluggish, unhurried, deliberate, leisurely, measured, dilatory, late, tardy, ultraslow

Word Forms of Rapid

Derived words: rapidly (adverb), rapidness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Rapid

borrowed from French & Latin; French rapide, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin rapidus "(of water) flowing violently enough to sweep anything along in its path, swiftly moving, quick," from rapere "to seize and carry off, carry or sweep along" + -idus, adjective suffix; rapere perhaps going back to pre-Latin *rep-, secondary zero-grade from presumed *erp-, going back to Indo-European *h1rp-, zero-grade of a base *h1rep- "seize, pluck," whence also Lithuanian aprė́piu, aprė́pti "to surround, include," Albanian rjep "removes, robs," Greek ereptómenos "feeding on, devouring"

First known use: 1634

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Rapid

Words & Phrases Containing Rapid

rapid eye movement, rapid eye movement sleep, rapid-fire, rapid transit

Frequently Asked Questions about Rapid

What does "Rapid" mean?

"Rapid" means marked by a fast rate of motion, activity, succession, or occurrence. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: marked by a fast rate of motion, activity, succession, or occurrence.

What is another word for "Rapid"?

Other words for "Rapid" include blistering, breakneck, breathless, brisk, dizzy, fast, fleet and fleet-footed. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Rapid" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Rapid"?

There are 41 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Rapid". Common alternatives include blistering, breakneck, breathless, brisk, dizzy, fast, fleet, fleet-footed, flying and galloping.

What is the opposite of "Rapid"?

Antonyms of "Rapid" include slow. Near antonyms include crawling, dallying, dawdling and dillydallying.

How do you use "Rapid" in a sentence?

Examples of "Rapid" in a sentence: "the rapid descent of the roller coaster made me feel very queasy".

Is "Rapid" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Rapid" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Rapid" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Rapid" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Rapid"?

"Rapid" is pronounced /ˈra-pəd/ and divided into syllables as rap·id.