What does fast mean?

Definitions for fast
fæst, fɑstfast

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word fast.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. fast, fastingadjective

    abstaining from food

  2. fastadjective

    acting or moving or capable of acting or moving quickly

    "fast film"; "on the fast track in school"; "set a fast pace"; "a fast car"

  3. fastadjective

    (used of timepieces) indicating a time ahead of or later than the correct time

    "my watch is fast"

  4. fastadjective

    at a rapid tempo

    "the band played a fast fox trot"

  5. fastadjective

    (of surfaces) conducive to rapid speeds

    "a fast road"; "grass courts are faster than clay"

  6. fastadjective

    resistant to destruction or fading

    "fast colors"

  7. debauched, degenerate, degraded, dissipated, dissolute, libertine, profligate, riotous, fastadjective

    unrestrained by convention or morality

    "Congreve draws a debauched aristocratic society"; "deplorably dissipated and degraded"; "riotous living"; "fast women"

  8. flying, quick, fastadjective

    hurried and brief

    "paid a flying visit"; "took a flying glance at the book"; "a quick inspection"; "a fast visit"

  9. fast, firm, immobileadjective

    securely fixed in place

    "the post was still firm after being hit by the car"

  10. firm, loyal, truehearted, fast(a)adjective

    unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or cause

    "a firm ally"; "loyal supporters"; "the true-hearted soldier...of Tippecanoe"- Campaign song for William Henry Harrison; "fast friends"

  11. fastverb

    (of a photographic lens or emulsion) causing a shortening of exposure time

    "a fast lens"

  12. fastverb

    abstain from certain foods, as for religious or medical reasons

    "Catholics sometimes fast during Lent"

  13. fastadverb

    abstain from eating

    "Before the medical exam, you must fast"

  14. fastadverb

    quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

    "how fast can he get here?"; "ran as fast as he could"; "needs medical help fast"; "fast-running rivers"; "fast-breaking news"; "fast-opening (or fast-closing) shutters"

  15. fast, tightadverb

    firmly or closely

    "held fast to the rope"; "her foot was stuck fast"; "held tight"

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Fastadjective

    Etymology: fæst, Saxon.

    He by his strength setteth fast mountains. Ps. lxv. 6.

    Last, the sire and his three sons,
    With their four wives; and God made fast the door. John Milton.

    Be sure to find,
    What I foretold thee, many a hard assay
    Of dangers and adversities, and pains,
    Ere thou of Israel’s sceptre get fast hold. John Milton, Par. Reg.

    England, by report of the chronicles, was infested with robbers and outlaws; which, lurking in woods and fast places, used often to break forth to rob and spoil. Edmund Spenser, on Ireland.

    Lodronius, with the breaking in and force of the horsemen, was driven into a marsh; where, after that he, being sore wounded, and almost fast in the deep mud, had done the uttermost of that his last endeavour, he yielded himself. Richard Knolles.

    A man in a boat, who tugs at a rope that’s fast to a ship, looks as if he resolved to draw the ship to him. William Temple.

    I have seen her rise from her bed, take paper, fold it, seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep. William Shakespeare, Macbeth.

    Quick wits be in desire new-fangled; in purpose, unconstant; light to promise any thing, ready to forget every thing, both benefit and injury; and thereby neither fast to friend, nor fearful to foe. Roger Ascham, Schoolmaster.

    This work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. Ezra v. viii.

    Skill comes so slow, and life so fast doth fly,
    We learn so little, and forget so much. Davies.

    The prince groweth up fast to be a man, and is of a sweet and excellent disposition: it would be a stain upon you if you should mislead, or suffer him to be misled. Francis Bacon, to Villiers.

    A rope of fair pearl, which now hiding, now hidden by the hair, did, as it were, play at fast and loose each with other, giving and receiving richness. Philip Sidney.

    If she perceived by his outward chear,
    That any would his love by talk bewray,
    Sometimes she heard him, sometimes stopt her ear,
    And play’d fast and loose the live-long day. Edward Fairfax, b. v.

    The folly and wickedness of men, that think to play fast and loose with God Almighty! Roger L'Estrange.

    If they cohered, yet by the next conflict with other atoms they might be separated again; and so on in an eternal vicissitude of fast and loose, without ever consociating into the huge condense bodies of planets. Richard Bentley, Sermons.

  2. Fastadverb

    Bind the boy, which you shall find with me,
    Fast to the chair. William Shakespeare, King John.

    This love of theirs myself have often seen,
    Haply when they have judg’d me fast asleep. William Shakespeare.

    Barbarossa left fourteen galleys in the lake; but the tacklings, sails, oars, and ordnance he had laid up in the castle fast by. Richard Knolles, History of the Turks.

    Siloa’s brook, that flow’d
    Fast by the oracle of God. John Milton, Paradise Lost, b. i.

    Let purling streams be in her fancy seen,
    And flow’ry meads, and vales of chearful green;
    And in the midst of deathless groves
    Soft sighing wishes lie,
    And smiling hopes fast by,
    And just beyond ’em ever-laughing loves. John Dryden, Tyr. Love.

    Fast by the throne obsequious fame resides,
    And wealth incessant rolls her golden tides. Alexander Pope, Odyssey.

    Well known to me the palace you inquire;
    For fast beside it dwells my honour’d sire. Alexander Pope, Odyssey.

    Here o’er the martyr-king the marble weeps,
    And fast beside him once-fear’d Edward sleeps. Alexander Pope.

    I would give a thousand pound I could run as fast as thou can’st. William Shakespeare, Henry IV. p. i.

    There streams a spring of blood so fast,
    From those deep wounds, as all embru’d the face. Daniel.

    The heaviest muse the swiftest course has gone,
    As clocks run fastest when most lead is on. Alexander Pope.

    You are to look upon me as one going fast out of the world. Jonathan Swift, to Pope.

    Being tried only with a promise, he gave full credit to that promise, and still gave evidence of his fidelity as fast as occasions were offered. Henry Hammond, Pract. Catech.

  3. Fastnoun

    Etymology: from the verb.

    A thousand men have broke their fasts to-day,
    That ne’er shall dine, unless thou yield the crown. William Shakespeare.

    Where will this end? Four times ten days I’ve pass’d,
    Wand’ring this woody maze, and human food
    Nor tasted, nor had appetite; that fast
    To virtue I impute not, or count part
    Of what I suffer here. John Milton, Paradise Lost, b. ii.

    Happy and innocent were the ages of our fore-fathers, who broke their fasts with herbs and roots; and when they were permitted flesh, eat it only dressed with hunger and fire. Taylor.

    She’s gone unkindly, and refus’d to cast
    One glance to feed me for so long a fast. John Dryden, Tyran. Love.

    We humble ourselves before God this day, not merely by the outward solemnities of a fast, but by afflicting our souls as well as bodies for our sins. Francis Atterbury, Sermons.

    Nor pray’rs nor fasts its stubborn pulse restrain;
    Nor tears, for ages, taught to flow in vain. Alexander Pope.

  4. To FASTverb

    Etymology: fastan, Gothick; fæstan, Saxon.

    Our love is not so great, Hortensio,
    But we may blow our nails together,
    And fast it fairly out. William Shakespeare, Taming of the Shrew.

    I had rather fast from all four days than drink so much in one. William Shakespeare, Anthony and Cleopatra.

    We have some meats, and breads, and drinks, which taken by men enable them to fast long after. Francis Bacon, New Atlantis.

    When thou fastest, anoint thy head and wash thy face, that thou appear not unto men to fast. Mat. vi.

    Last night the very god shew’d me a vision:
    I fast, and pray’d for their intelligence. William Shakespeare, Cymbeline.

Wikipedia

  1. Fast

    Fast is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Luke Bryan. It was released in November 2016 as the sixth and final single from his 2015 album Kill the Lights.

ChatGPT

  1. fast

    Fast is an adjective that refers to a high speed or rate of motion, action, or progress. It indicates that something or someone is able to move, operate, or achieve results quickly or in a short amount of time.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Fastverb

    to abstain from food; to omit to take nourishment in whole or in part; to go hungry

  2. Fastverb

    to practice abstinence as a religious exercise or duty; to abstain from food voluntarily for a time, for the mortification of the body or appetites, or as a token of grief, or humiliation and penitence

  3. Fastverb

    abstinence from food; omission to take nourishment

  4. Fastverb

    voluntary abstinence from food, for a space of time, as a spiritual discipline, or as a token of religious humiliation

  5. Fastverb

    a time of fasting, whether a day, week, or longer time; a period of abstinence from food or certain kinds of food; as, an annual fast

  6. Fast

    firmly fixed; closely adhering; made firm; not loose, unstable, or easily moved; immovable; as, to make fast the door

  7. Fast

    firm against attack; fortified by nature or art; impregnable; strong

  8. Fast

    firm in adherence; steadfast; not easily separated or alienated; faithful; as, a fast friend

  9. Fast

    permanent; not liable to fade by exposure to air or by washing; durable; lasting; as, fast colors

  10. Fast

    tenacious; retentive

  11. Fast

    not easily disturbed or broken; deep; sound

  12. Fast

    moving rapidly; quick in mition; rapid; swift; as, a fast horse

  13. Fast

    given to pleasure seeking; disregardful of restraint; reckless; wild; dissipated; dissolute; as, a fast man; a fast liver

  14. Fastadjective

    in a fast, fixed, or firmly established manner; fixedly; firmly; immovably

  15. Fastadjective

    in a fast or rapid manner; quickly; swiftly; extravagantly; wildly; as, to run fast; to live fast

  16. Fastnoun

    that which fastens or holds; especially, (Naut.) a mooring rope, hawser, or chain; -- called, according to its position, a bow, head, quarter, breast, or stern fast; also, a post on a pier around which hawsers are passed in mooring

  17. Fastnoun

    the shaft of a column, or trunk of pilaster

  18. Etymology: [OE., firm, strong, not loose, AS. fst; akin to OS. fast, D. vast, OHG. fasti, festi, G. fest, Icel. fastr, Sw. & Dan. fast, and perh. to E. fetter. The sense swift comes from the idea of keeping close to what is pursued; a Scandinavian use. Cf. Fast, adv., Fast, v., Avast.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Fast

    fast, adj. firm: fixed: steadfast: fortified: (of sleep) sound (Shak.).—adv. firmly, unflinchingly: soundly or sound (asleep): quickly: close, near.—n. Fast-and-loose, the name of a cheating game practised at fairs—called also Prick-the-garter.—adj. Fast′-hand′ed, close-fisted.—adv. Fast′ly (Shak.), firmly.—n. Fast′ness, fixedness: a stronghold, fortress, castle.—Fast by, close to.—Play fast and loose (from the foregoing), to be unreliable, to say one thing and do another; Hard-and-fast (see Hard). [A.S. fæst; Ger. fest.]

  2. Fast

    fast, adj. quick: rapid: rash: dissipated.—adv. swiftly: in rapid succession: extravagantly.—adj. Fast′ish, somewhat fast. [A special use of fast, firm, derived from the Scand., in the sense of urgent.]

  3. Fast

    fast, v.i. to keep from food: to go hungry: to abstain from food in whole or part, as a religious duty.—n. abstinence from food: special abstinence enjoined by the church: the day or time of fasting.—ns. Fast′-day, a day of religious fasting: (Scot.) a day for humiliation and prayer, esp. before celebrations of the Lord's Supper; Fast′ens, short for Fastens-eve (Scot. Fasten-e'en and Fastern's-e'en), Fastens Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday; Fast′er, one who fasts: Fast′ing, religious abstinence. [A.S. fæstan, to fast; Ger. fasten, to keep: perh. allied with fast, firm, in the sense of making strict.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms

  1. fast

    A rope, cablet, or chain by which a vessel is secured to a wharf; and termed bow, head, breast, quarter, or stern fasts, as the case may be.

Suggested Resources

  1. FAST

    What does FAST stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the FAST acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

  2. Fast

    Fast vs. Fat -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Fast and Fat.

Surnames Frequency by Census Records

  1. FAST

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Fast is ranked #6838 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

    The Fast surname appeared 4,929 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 would have the surname Fast.

    94.8% or 4,675 total occurrences were White.
    1.9% or 95 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
    1.5% or 76 total occurrences were of two or more races.
    0.7% or 35 total occurrences were Asian.
    0.5% or 28 total occurrences were Black.
    0.4% or 20 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'fast' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2364

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'fast' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2407

  3. Adverbs Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'fast' in Adverbs Frequency: #191

  4. Adjectives Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'fast' in Adjectives Frequency: #271

How to pronounce fast?

How to say fast in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of fast in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of fast in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of fast in a Sentence

  1. Jake Carstens:

    It's worth noting that despite Florida Panhandle seeing a bit less of the action compared to other states like Louisiana, landfall locations don't fully describe the range and extent of Fast FactsStorm impacts, hurricane Isaias nearly clipped the east coast of Florida Panhandle and prompted Hurricane Warnings in South Florida for a time. Hurricane Sally in September brought flooding and tornadoes to much of the Florida Panhandle, and came awfully close to tropical storm strength in Hurricane Sally in September early stages when it hit Miami-Dade County.

  2. Adrian Vanzyl:

    There is plenty of capital available ... and Indonesia is exploding on every possible level, why are things growing less fast than they can? The answer is talent shortage. That is the number one factor.

  3. Pekka Vauramo:

    Finnair too should prepare for the consolidation in every way, so that the owners would be ready to make fast decisions when the time comes, the preparation would be good to do in advance.

  4. David Jones:

    You said it's fast, but fair. I want you to know that at least my looking at it says it's not fast enough.

  5. Alabama Senate:

    Raising the debt ceiling doesn't help that issue. I think holding fast on cutting costs, cutting programs that are not value added that gets us to a balanced budget is absolutely something that is in the hands of Congress, and I would fight to do that.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

fast#1#852#10000

Translations for fast

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

  • vas, voor, kleurvas, vinnigAfrikaans
  • ጾመAmharic
  • سَريع, سرعة, عاجلاً, صامArabic
  • тиҙ, ҡаты, шәп, ныҡ, нығытыпBashkir
  • хуткі, хуткаBelarusian
  • неизбеляващ, закрепен, бърз, здрав, постя, силно, дълбоко, бързо, здравоBulgarian
  • མགྱོགས་པོ, ཟས་གཅོདTibetan Standard
  • ràpid, ferm, veloç, ràpidament, veloçment, dejunar, fermamentCatalan, Valencian
  • rychlý, hluboký, rychle, postitCzech
  • ymprydioWelsh
  • farvefast, dyb, foran, hurtig, fast, dybt, fasteDanish
  • befestigt, pfeilgeschwind, tief, schnell, beständig, pfeilschnell, geschwind, fest, farbecht, fastenGerman
  • βαθύς, στερεός, ταχύς, μπροστά, γρήγορος, νηστεύω, γρήγοραGreek
  • rapida, fasti, rapideEsperanto
  • rápido, ayunar, rápidamenteSpanish
  • irmo, finko, azkar, tinko, barau egin, agudoBasque
  • تند, فرز, روزه گرفتنPersian
  • nopea, kiinni, syvä, sikeä, pikaisesti, lujasti, etuajassa, tiukasti, nopeasti, paastota, sikeästiFinnish
  • skjótur, fastur, fasta, fast, skjóttFaroese
  • rapide, vite, jeûner, rapidementFrench
  • luath, suite, ceangailte, aoineIrish
  • luath, traisgScottish Gaelic
  • rápidoGalician
  • מהיר, מהר, צָםHebrew
  • तीव्र, तेज़, झटपट, जल्दी, उपवासHindi
  • érzékeny, szilárd, gyors, siet, sebes, mély, tartós, szilárdan, mélyen, gyorsan, böjtölHungarian
  • արագ, պաս պահելArmenian
  • puasa, cepatIndonesian
  • kvikur, fastur, hraðskreiður, hraður, snöggur, skjótur, fljótur, ör, fast, fasta, hrattIcelandic
  • resistente, rapida, avanti, fisso, veloce, rapido, profondo, digiunare, profondamente, rapidamente, velocemente, saldamenteItalian
  • מָהִירHebrew
  • 速い, 早い, しっかりした, 急ぐ, しっかりと, 断食するJapanese
  • pasaJavanese
  • სწრაფი, მარხულობა, მარხვის შენახვაGeorgian
  • លឿន, ឆាប់Khmer
  • ವೇಗವಾಗಿKannada
  • 빨리Korean
  • زوو, sabit, zeft, zû, خێرا, زو, رۆژوو گرتن, rojî girtinKurdish
  • celer, iēiūnōLatin
  • tvirtas, greitas, greita, pasninkautiLithuanian
  • nasks, stipri, straujš, ašs, žigls, knašs, ātrs, gavētLatvian
  • ngita, nohopukuMāori
  • отпорен, постојан, силен, цврст, брз, брзо, пости, цврсто, предвременMacedonian
  • fastMongolian
  • lena, laju, puasa, berpuasaMalay
  • snel, kwiek, rap, vast, gezwind, vlug, vastenDutch
  • kjapp, rask, dyp, fargeekte, før, for tidlig, fast, dypt, faste, raskt, kjapt, hurtigNorwegian
  • tsį́į́łgo, hah, tsį́į́łNavajo, Navaho
  • junarOccitan
  • szybki, prędko, bystro, pościć, szybkoPolish
  • profundo, veloz, firme, adiantado, seguro, indesbotável, rápido, pesado, velozmente, profundamente, rapidamente, seguramente, firmemente, adiantadamente, jejuarPortuguese
  • gegünar, gegüner, gigina, gigigna, günerRomansh
  • grăbit, repede, rapid, iute, ajuna, postiRomanian
  • крепкий, прочный, скорый, обгоняющий, скоростной, спешащий, быстрый, преждевременно, прочно, попоститься, быстро, поститься, крепкоRussian
  • शीघ्रं, स्थिरंSanskrit
  • dejunare, giunai, geunare, deunare, deunzare, deinare, zaunare, ageunareSardinian
  • brzo, постити, брзо, postitiSerbo-Croatian
  • rýchly, rýchloSlovak
  • híter, postiti se, hítroSlovene
  • fäst, snabb, kvick, djup, färgäkta, före, kvickt, snabbt, fort, fasta, djuptSwedish
  • haraka, fungaSwahili
  • வேகமாகTamil
  • వేగంగాTelugu
  • рӯза гирифтанTajik
  • เร็ว, อดอาหารThai
  • mabilisTagalog
  • hızlı, oruç tutmakTurkish
  • швидкий, швидко, Припинити вогоньUkrainian
  • تیزUrdu
  • mau, nhanhVietnamese
  • sagitavifik, vifikVolapük
  • פֿאַסטןYiddish
  • 快速Chinese

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