speedy

/ˈspiːdi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈspiːdi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈspē-dē/ (ame, mw)

speedy — adjective

  • speedypositive
  • speediercomparative
  • speediestsuperlative

1. done or completed in a short time, with very little delay between starting and f

1.形容詞B1
釋義

done or completed in a short time, with very little delay between starting and finishing.

例句

The patient made a speedy recovery after the surgery and went home in three days.

collocation: speedy recovery

A speedy solution to the flooding problem was what the residents needed most.

同義詞
  • quick

    more common in everyday speech; 'quick response' and 'speedy response' are both natural

  • swift

    slightly more formal or literary; common in news reporting

  • prompt

    focuses on doing something without delay, especially in service or reply contexts

反義詞
  • slow

    general opposite; a slow recovery takes a long time

  • prolonged

    implies the process lasted longer than expected or desired

用法筆記

This sense applies only to events, processes, or outcomes (recovery, solution, refund, progress). It is not used for the speed of moving objects or vehicles — that belongs to sense 2 (HIGH SPEED).

常見錯誤

❌I took a speedy train to Taipei.
✅I took a fast train to Taipei.
💡'Speedy' in the QUICK COMPLETION sense describes how quickly something happens, not how fast a vehicle moves.

2. moving or able to move at great speed when travelling or operating.

2.形容詞B1
釋義

moving or able to move at great speed when travelling or operating.

例句

Cole rides a speedy scooter that can reach sixty kilometres per hour.

modifies vehicle nouns: speedy scooter / car / train

The speediest animal on land is the cheetah, which can run over one hundred kilometres per hour.

superlative form: speediest

同義詞
  • fast

    the most common and neutral alternative; works in all contexts

  • rapid

    slightly more formal; common in technical or scientific writing

  • swift

    more literary or dramatic; often used for animals or natural forces

反義詞
  • slow

    general opposite

  • sluggish

    describes movement that is slow and without energy

用法筆記

The comparative and superlative forms speedier and speediest are common, especially in informal and descriptive contexts.

常見錯誤

❌We need a speedy reply from the manager.
✅We need a quick reply from the manager.
💡For replies, letters, and messages, 'quick' or 'prompt' is more natural than 'speedy' in most contexts.