Describing Speed: English Vocabulary List

done very quickly without wasting time or resources

"We need an expeditious reply."

"The lawyer handled the case in an expeditious manner and the client was pleased that the matter was resolved within two weeks."

at the maximum speed

"The car drove flat out."

"He ran flat out to catch the bus but it was too late and the doors closed right in his face."

intentionally delaying or slow to act

"His dilatory response annoyed."

"The student's dilatory behavior caused him to miss the deadline for his paper and his professor refused to accept the late assignment."

moving or progressing slowly and with great effort

"Their plodding progress frustrated."

"The plodding pace of the old horse frustrated the young rider who wanted to gallop across the field at full speed."

sluggish or falling behind in progress, development, or pace compared to others

"The laggard student struggled."

"The laggard student was always behind in his work and he had to stay after school every day to catch up with his classmates."

moving or happening at an extremely dangerous or fast speed

"He drove at breakneck speed."

"The driver took the corner at breakneck speed and nearly crashed into a tree but he managed to regain control of the car."

happening at a swift pace

"They finished lickety-split."

"The children cleaned their rooms lickety-split because they wanted to go to the movies with their friends and did not want to be late."

having a speed greater than that of sound

"The plane flew supersonic."

"The supersonic jet can travel faster than the speed of sound and it crosses the Atlantic Ocean in just three hours."

to speed up or facilitate the progress of an action or task

"We need to expedite the shipping process."

"We need to expedite the shipping process if we want the products to arrive before Christmas next week."

to surpass, exceed, or move faster than someone or something

"The runner will outpace them."

"The young runner managed to outpace all of his competitors and win the gold medal at the championship race."