fast

[[t]fɑ͟ːst, fæ̱st[/t]]

♦♦

faster, fastest, fasts, fasting, fasted

1) ADJ-GRADED Fast means happening, moving, or doing something at great speed. You also use fast in questions or statements about speed.

...fast cars with flashing lights and sirens...

Brindley was known as a very, very fast driver...

The party aims to attract votes from the business and professional communities, which want a faster pace of political reform...

The only question is how fast the process will be.

Syn:

quickly

Ant:

slowly

ADV-GRADED: ADV with v

Fast is also an adverb.

They work terrifically fast... It would be nice to go faster and break the world record... He thinks they're not adapting fast enough... Barnes also knows that he is fast running out of time... How fast were you driving?... How fast would the disease develop?

2) ADV-GRADED: ADV after v You use fast to say that something happens without any delay.

When you've got a crisis like this you need professional help - fast!...

We'd appreciate your leaving as fast as possible.

Syn:

swift

ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n

Fast is also an adjective.

That would be an astonishingly fast action on the part of the Congress.

3) ADJ-GRADED: v-link ADJ If a watch or clock is fast, it is showing a time that is later than the real time.

That clock's an hour fast.

4) ADJ: ADJ n The fast lane on a motorway or highway is intended for the vehicles which are travelling at the greatest speeds.

A man was killed as he walked down the fast lane of a motorway yesterday.

Ant:

slow

5) ADV-GRADED: ADV after v If you hold something fast, you hold it tightly and firmly. If something is stuck fast, it is stuck very firmly and cannot move.

She climbed the staircase cautiously, holding fast to the rail...

The tanker is stuck fast on the rocks.

Syn:

firmly

6) ADV-GRADED: ADV after v If you hold fast to a principle or idea, or if you stand fast, you do not change your mind about it, even though people are trying to persuade you to.

We can only try to hold fast to the age-old values of honesty, decency and concern for others...

He told supporters to stand fast over the next few vital days.

Syn:

firmly

7) ADJ-GRADED: usu v-link ADJ If colours or dyes are fast, they do not come out of the fabrics they are used on when they get wet.

The fabric was ironed to make the colours fast.

8) ADJ: ADJ n A fast way of life is one which involves a lot of enjoyable and expensive or dangerous activities.

Life in Detroit no longer satisfied him; he wanted the fast life of California.

Syn:

exciting

Ant:

dull

9) VERB If you fast, you eat no food for a period of time, usually for either religious or medical reasons, or as a protest.

I fasted for a day and half and asked God to help me.

Ant:

gorge

Derived words:

fasting N-UNCOUNT

...the Muslim holy month of fasting and prayer.

N-COUNT

Fast is also a noun.

The fast is broken at sunset, traditionally with dates and water.

10) PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v Someone who is fast asleep is completely asleep.

When he went upstairs five minutes later, she was fast asleep.

11) PHRASE: V inflects (disapproval) If you say that someone is playing fast and loose, you are expressing disapproval of them for behaving in a deceitful, immoral, or irresponsible way.

There have been people who have played fast and loose with the rules.

12) PHRASE: V inflects If you say that someone has pulled a fast one on you, you mean that they have cheated or tricked you. [INFORMAL]

No doubt someone had pulled a fast one on her over a procedural matter.

13) make a fast buck → see buck

fast lane → see lane