What does "rapid" mean?
A rough section of a river or stream which is difficult to navigate due to the swift and turbulent motion of the water.
Rapid
/ˈɹæpɪd/ adj, adv, noun, slang
adj, adv, noun, slang ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A rough section of a river or stream which is difficult to navigate due to the swift and turbulent motion of the water.
- Grammar: rapid is listed as adj, adv, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: abrupt, abrupt change, abrupt movement, abrupt speed change.
- Useful contrasts: antirevolutionary stance, creeping motion, deliberate effort.
- Usage evidence: Technological innovation brought about the rapid progress of the information industry.
How to use "rapid"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "rapid" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "rapid" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "rapid" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "rapid" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "rapid" is acting as adj, adv, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "abrupt" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "rapid", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A rough section of a river or stream which is difficult to navigate due to the swift and turbulent motion of the water. plural-normally
- 2 a part of a river where the current is very fast wordnet
- 3 A burst of rapid fire. dated
- 4 Ellipsis of rapid chess. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
"In these rapid games we had just twenty-five minutes each to make all our moves, a far cry from traditional chess, where games can last up to seven hours."
Adjective
- 1 Very swift or quick.
"a rapid stream"
- 2 Steep, changing altitude quickly. (of a slope)
- 3 Needing only a brief exposure time. (of a lens, plate, film, etc.)
- 4 Violent, severe. England, dialectal
- 5 Happy. dialectal, obsolete
Adjective
- 1 done or occurring in a brief period of time wordnet
- 2 characterized by speed; moving with or capable of moving with high speed wordnet
Adverb
- 1 Rapidly. archaic, colloquial
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
antirevolutionary stancecreeping motiondeliberate effortgentle entry
Example
"Technological innovation brought about the rapid progress of the information industry."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "rapid"?
Common synonyms include: abrupt, abrupt change, abrupt movement, abrupt speed change, accelerated, accelerated pace.
How do you use "rapid" in a sentence?
Technological innovation brought about the rapid progress of the information industry.
How do you pronounce "rapid"?
Pronounced /ˈɹæpɪd/.
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French rapide and its etymon Latin rapidus.