Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Acting, moving, or capable of acting or moving quickly; swift.
- adjective Accomplished in relatively little time.
- adjective Acquired quickly with little effort and sometimes unscrupulously.
- adjective Quick to understand or learn; mentally agile.
- adjective Indicating a time somewhat ahead of the actual time.
- adjective Allowing rapid movement or action.
- adjective Designed for or compatible with a short exposure time.
- adjective Disposed to dissipation; wild.
- adjective Flouting conventional moral standards; sexually promiscuous.
- adjective Resistant, as to destruction or fading.
- adjective Firmly fixed or fastened.
- adjective Fixed firmly in place; secure.
- adjective Firm in loyalty: synonym: faithful.
- adjective Lasting; permanent.
- adjective Deep; sound.
- adverb In a secure manner; tightly.
- adverb To a sound degree; deeply.
- adverb In a rapid manner; quickly.
- adverb In quick succession.
- adverb Ahead of the correct or expected time.
- adverb In a dissipated, immoderate way.
- adverb Archaic Close by; near.
- intransitive verb To abstain from food.
- intransitive verb To eat very little or abstain from certain foods, especially as a religious discipline.
- noun The act or practice of abstaining from or eating very little food.
- noun A period of such abstention or self-denial.
from The Century Dictionary.
- To make fast; fix; fasten.
- Specifically To join in marriage; marry.
- So as to be fixed or firm; so as to be firmly fixed in its place or in a desired position; firmly; immovably: as, the door sticks fast.
- In archery, used elliptically for stand fast, or some similar injunction, in cautioning a person against passing between the shooter and the target, and directing him to stand fast, or remain where he is.
- Strongly; vehemently; greatly; hard.
- Tenaciously; durably; permanently.
- Eagerly.
- Soundly; closely; deeply.
- Close; near: as, fast by; fast beside. See below.
- Swiftly; rapidly; quickly; with quick motion or in rapid succession: as, to run fast; to move fast through the water, as a ship; the work goes on fast; it rains fast; the blows fell thick and fast.
- Firmly fixed in place; immovable.
- Strong against attack; fortified.
- Fixed in such a way as to prevent detachment, separation, removal, or escape; tight; secure; close; not loose nor easily detachable: as, take a fast hold; make fast the door; make fast a rope.
- Firm in adherence; steadfast; faithful.
- Tenacious; not fugitive; durable; lasting; permanent in tint: as, fast colors; fast to milling or to washing (said of colors, or of materials which will not change color under those operations).
- Close, as sleep; deep; sound.
- In use; not to be had.
- The game of prison-bars or prisoner's-base.
- Nautical, to belay: as, to
make fast a rope. - noun That which fastens or holds.
- noun Immovable shore-ice.
- noun An underlayer; an understratum.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word fast.
Examples
-
That's why students of the U.S. S.hool of Music get ahead twice as fast -- _three times as fast_ as those who study old-fashioned, plodding methods.
-
_ (held) fast in his antagonist's clutch_, 637; fȳrbendum fæst, _fast in the forged hinges_, 723; handa fæst, 1291, etc.; hygebendum fæst (beorn him langað), _fast (shut) in the bonds of his bosom, the man longs for_ (i.e. in secret), 1879.
Beowulf Robert Sharp 1879
-
_ (held) fast in his antagonist's clutch_, 637; fýrbendum fäst, _fast in the forged hinges_, 723; handa fäst, 1291, etc.; hygebendum fäst (beorn him langað), _fast (shut) in the bonds of his bosom, the man longs for_ (i.e. in secret), 1879.
Beowulf Robert Sharp 1879
-
BRIDEGROOM is with them, the SONS OF THE NUPTIALS cannot fast: the days will come when the BRIDEGROOM will be taken away from them, and then will they fast_, "Matt ix.
The Delights of Wisdom Pertaining to Conjugial Love Emanuel Swedenborg 1730
-
His lead: “Attention White House speechwriters: The term fast track is no longer in vogue.”
No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003
-
His lead: “Attention White House speechwriters: The term fast track is no longer in vogue.”
No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003
-
His lead: “Attention White House speechwriters: The term fast track is no longer in vogue.”
No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003
-
His lead: “Attention White House speechwriters: The term fast track is no longer in vogue.”
No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003
-
Win, and win fast, is the mandate NFL head coaches carry into their jobs.
New era for NFL head coaches: Super Bowl winners must sit 2009
-
The phrase fast track has a long history in horse racing, to mean “dry, conducive to speed.”
No Uncertain Terms William Safire 2003
oroboros commented on the word fast
Contronymic in the sense: moving vs. fixed in place or asleep.
January 29, 2007
sionnach commented on the word fast
Goaded by his desire for instant gratification, a German academic strikes an ill-judged bargain.
February 6, 2008
wytukaze commented on the word fast
Citation (with meaning “solid�?) at uncleft.
November 14, 2008
gangerh commented on the word fast
We all want things to happen faster. If you can do it - tell them.
'15 words that will make you money'
July 23, 2009