1
2
: firmly loyal
became fast friends
3
a
: characterized by quick motion, operation, or effect:
(1)
: moving or able to move rapidly : swift
a fast horse
(2)
: taking a comparatively short time
a fast race
(3)
: imparting quickness of motion
a fast bowler
(4)
: accomplished quickly
fast work
(5)
: agile of mind
especially
: quick to learn
a class for fast students
b
: conducive to rapidity of play or action
a fast track
c(1)
of a timepiece or weighing device
: indicating in advance of what is correct
Your clock is two minutes fast.
(2)
: according to or being daylight saving time
d
: contributing to a shortening of exposure time
fast film
e
: acquired with unusually little effort and often by shady or dishonest methods
had a keen eye for a fast buck—
R. A. Keith
R. A. Keith4
a
: securely attached
a rope fast to the wharf
b
: tenacious
a fast hold on her purse
5
a
archaic
: sound asleep
b
of sleep
: not easily disturbed
fell into a fast sleep
6
: not fading or changing color readily
fast colors
7
a
: actively seeking excitement and pleasure : wild
a pretty fast crowd
b
: sexually promiscuous
8
: resistant to change (as from destructive action or fading)
fast dyes
—often used in combinationsunfast
acid-fast bacteria
fasted; fasting; fasts
Synonyms
Examples of fast in a Sentence
Adjective
She's a very fast runner.
We're off to a fast start.
We're now experiencing a faster rate of inflation.
We took the faster route.
Adverb
The boss expects this to be done this afternoon, so you'd better work fast.
He ran as fast as he could.
This is fast becoming a national problem.
You need to act fast to take advantage of this offer.
I don't know what caused the accident. It all happened so fast.
She's a woman who can think fast in a crisis.
He's going to have to talk fast to get himself out of this mess.
The window was stuck fast.
She held fast to her belief in justice.
We must stand fast and not surrender!
Verb
She always fasts on Yom Kippur.
Patients must fast for six hours before having the procedure.
Recent Examples on the WebDrew Bernstein, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
The analyst said that a faster pace of interest rate cuts is generally positive for NIM at midcap banks, while being more mixed for large cap banks.
—Pia Singh,fred Imbert, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2024
Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2024
When there’s been a disaster, swift action is vital to reduce the amount of destruction and give people hope that things will get better—fast.
—Nasutsa Mabwa, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
Kyle Hyatt, Robb Report, 19 Sep. 2024
More to Read Will the Federal Reserve cut interest rates fast enough to deliver a ‘soft landing’?
Sept. 16, 2024
Considering a mortgage refi?
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2024
Roxana Ehsani, Health, 25 Sep. 2024
The council’s Transportation Electrification Strategy estimates there will need to be 3,030 public fast charging ports for light-duty vehicles by 2025; the council estimates that there will need to be 728 private ports to meet EV charging demand.
—Tj Martinell | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fast 
Adjective
China’s past success was often based on being a low-cost, fast follower.
—Drew Bernstein, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
The analyst said that a faster pace of interest rate cuts is generally positive for NIM at midcap banks, while being more mixed for large cap banks.
—Pia Singh,fred Imbert, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2024
Adverb
If America is going to avoid repeating our COVID mistakes, things need to change fast.
—Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2024
When there’s been a disaster, swift action is vital to reduce the amount of destruction and give people hope that things will get better—fast.
—Nasutsa Mabwa, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024
Verb
And a four-door sports car is still a sports car, and more than just quick off the line or fast down a long straight.
—Kyle Hyatt, Robb Report, 19 Sep. 2024
More to Read Will the Federal Reserve cut interest rates fast enough to deliver a ‘soft landing’?
Sept. 16, 2024
Considering a mortgage refi?
—Andrew Khouri, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2024
Noun
After an overnight fast, the brain’s glucose levels are low.
—Roxana Ehsani, Health, 25 Sep. 2024
The council’s Transportation Electrification Strategy estimates there will need to be 3,030 public fast charging ports for light-duty vehicles by 2025; the council estimates that there will need to be 728 private ports to meet EV charging demand.
—Tj Martinell | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for fast
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fast.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near fast
Cite this Entry
“Fast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fast. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
fast
1 of 4 adjective1
a
: firmly fixed or bound
b
: tightly shut
c
: sticking firmly
2
: firmly loyal
became fast friends
3
a
: moving or able to move rapidly
b
: taking a short time
c
: giving quickness of motion (as to a thrown ball)
d
: favorable to speed
the faster route
4
: indicating ahead of the correct time
my clock is fast
5
: tricky and unfair
pulled a fast one
6
: not likely to fade
fast colors
fast
3 of 4 verb1
: to go without eating
2
: to eat in small amounts or only certain foods
fast
4 of 4 noun1
: the act of fasting
2
: a time of fasting
Etymology
Adjective
Old English fæst "firmly fixed"
Verb
Old English fæstan "to go without eating"
Medical Definition
fast
1 of 3 adjective1
: firmly fixed
2
a
: having a rapid effect
a fast medicine
b
: allowing for the rapid passage of a gas or liquid
3
: resistant to change (as from destructive action)
—used chiefly of organisms and in combination with the agent resisted
acid-fast bacteria
fast
2 of 3 intransitive verb1
: to abstain from food
2
: to eat sparingly or abstain from some foods
: to deny food to
the patient is fasted and given a mild hypnotic—Lancet
Lancetfast
3 of 3 noun1
: the practice of fasting
2
: a time of fasting
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