swift Meaning & Definition
What Does Swift Mean?
Swift is an adjective that means Fast; quick; rapid. It is also used to mean Capable of moving at high speeds. As an adverb, it means Swiftly. As a noun, it means A small plain-colored bird of the family Apodidae that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight.
Word Facts for Swift
| Part of speech | adjective, adverb, noun |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /swɪft/ |
| Synonyms | fast, fleet and western fence lizard |
| Plural | swifts |
| Comparative / superlative | swifter, swiftest |
Swift Definition (Adjective)
- Fast; quick; rapid.
swift action
- Capable of moving at high speeds.
- Quick-thinking; bright.
Swift as an Adverb
- Swiftly.
Swift as a Noun
- A small plain-colored bird of the family Apodidae that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight.
- Any of certain lizards of the genus Sceloporus.
- A moth of the family Hepialidae, swift moth, ghost moth.
- Any of various fast-flying hesperiid butterflies.
- A light, collapsible reel used to hold a hank of yarn in order to wind off skeins or balls.
- The main cylinder of a carding-machine.
- The current of a stream.
Noun
- A reel for winding yarn.
Synonyms of Swift
Swift in a Sentence
swift action
swift response
swift recovery
The river’s swift current carried the boat downstream.
She gave a swift reply to his question.
Word Forms & Grammar
swift (comparative swifter, superlative swiftest)
swift (comparative more swift, superlative most swift)
swift (plural swifts)
Words That Rhyme With Swift
Origin of Swift
From Middle English swift, from Old English swift (“swift; quick”), from Proto-Germanic *swiftaz (“swift; quick”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)weyp- (“to twist; wind around”). Cognate with Icelandic svipta (“to pull quickly”), Old English swīfan (“to revolve, sweep, wend, intervene”). More at swivel.
Frequently Asked Questions About Swift
Is swift an adjective or an adverb?
Swift is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as an adverb and a noun.
What is another word for swift?
Close synonyms of swift are fast, fleet and western fence lizard. See the full list of swift synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of swift?
The plural of swift is swifts.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of swift?
The comparative form is swifter and the superlative form is swiftest.