speed
gb/spˈid/ us/spˈid/
A2
English
~ 1300
sebesség, tempó, száguld, gyorsít, siet, sebességhatár, megengedett legnagyobb sebesség, sebességkorlátozás, gyorsaság, amfetamin, speed
NOUN
A2
1
Usage pattern:
the speed of [something]
The car was traveling at a speed of 80 miles per hour.
Az autó 80 mérföld/órás sebességgel haladt.
He increased his running speed to win the race.
Növelte a futósebességét, hogy megnyerje a versenyt.
The train picked up speed as it left the station.
Learner examples
The bus is moving at high speed.
A busz nagy sebességgel halad.
She runs at a good speed.
Jó tempóban fut.
The bike is going at slow speed.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'speed' with 'time', saying 'the speed is 3 hours' instead of 'it takes 3 hours'.
Meaning
rate of movement
Collocations
high speed
|top speed
|speed limit
|average speed
|speed camera
Synonyms
velocity (More technical, often used in physics.)
Antonyms
slowness (Refers to a low rate of movement.)
Themes
transportation
|science
|sports
|core_vocabulary
Definition
How fast someone or something moves.
The rate at which someone or something moves or is able to move.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
to speed [somewhere]
The ambulance sped through the traffic.
A mentő száguldott a forgalomban.
She sped home after hearing the news.
A hír hallatán hazasietett.
They sped past us on the highway.
Learner examples
The car speeds down the road.
Az autó száguld az úton.
He speeds to work every day.
Mindennap siet a munkába.
They speed past the bus stop.
Common mistake:
Learners may incorrectly use 'speed' without 'up' when meaning 'increase speed', as in 'The car speed' instead of 'The car sped up'.
Meaning
move quickly
Collocations
speed away
|speed off
|speed through
|speed past
Synonyms
hurry (Implies urgency but not necessarily high velocity.)
Antonyms
crawl (To move very slowly.)
Themes
transportation
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|travel
Definition
To go from one place to another fast.
To move or travel quickly.
NOUN
A2
3
Usage pattern:
the speed limit on [road] is [number]
The speed limit here is 50 kilometers per hour.
Itt 50 kilométer/óra a sebességhatár.
He was fined for breaking the speed limit.
Megbüntették, mert túllépte a sebességhatárt.
They plan to reduce the speed limit in school zones.
Learner examples
The speed limit is 60 km/h.
A sebességhatár 60 km/h.
Do not drive over the speed limit.
Ne lépd túl a sebességhatárt.
She drives under the speed limit.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'speed limit' with 'average speed'.
Meaning
legal travel limit
Collocations
exceed the speed limit
|set a speed limit
|obey the speed limit
Synonyms
velocity limit (Technical term, rare in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
no limit (A situation where no maximum speed is enforced.)
Themes
law
|transportation
Definition
The fastest you can legally drive on a road.
The maximum legal rate of travel for vehicles on a particular road.
NOUN
B1
4
Her typing speed is impressive.
Lenyűgöző a gépelési sebessége.
Speed is important in emergency situations.
Vészhelyzetekben fontos a gyorsaság.
He admired the speed of her decision-making.
Learner examples
My typing speed is fast.
Jó a gépelési sebességem.
We need more speed in this game.
Ebben a játékban nagyobb tempóra van szükségünk.
He works with good speed.
Meaning
quickness in action
Collocations
work with speed
|speed and efficiency
|speed of response
Synonyms
quickness (Slightly more informal and general.)
Antonyms
sluggishness (Slow and lacking energy.)
Themes
sports
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
How fast you can do something.
The ability to perform an action or task quickly.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
5
He was arrested for possessing speed.
Speed birtoklása miatt tartóztatták le.
Speed can be highly addictive.
A speed erős függőséget okozhat.
They found packets of speed hidden in his car.
Learner examples
Speed is a dangerous drug.
A speed veszélyes drog.
He took speed last night.
Tegnap este speedet vett be.
Police found speed in his bag.
Meaning
illegal stimulant drug
Collocations
take speed
|on speed
Synonyms
amphetamine (Scientific term for the substance, used in medical contexts.)
Themes
drugs
|health
Definition
An illegal drug that makes people feel more awake and active.
An illegal stimulant drug, especially amphetamine or methamphetamine.
Grammar
Dictionary form
speed
IPA
GB/spˈid/
US/spˈid/
Syllables & stress
speed (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (speed)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: speed
- Plural: speed, speeds
Verb
- Base: speed
- 3rd Person Singular: speeds
- Present Participle: speeding
- Past: sped, speeded
- Past Participle: sped
Word family
Forms
speeds
noun
speeding
verb
sped
verb
speeded
verb
Core family
speedy
adjective B1
Related words
speedometer
noun
speeder
noun B1
Advanced or less common
speedily
adverb B1
Highlights
- Irregular past participle: sped Verb
Expressions
at full speed
1/ˈæt fˈʊl spˈid/
fixed phrase
as fast as possible
Moving as fast as possible.
Examples
- The ship was sailing at full speed.
- He ran at full speed to catch the bus.
more haste, less speed
1/mˈɔɹ hˈeɪst | lˈɛs spˈid/
idiom
hurrying causes delays or mistakes overall slowing progress overall
If you try to do something too quickly, you will make mistakes and take longer overall.
Examples
- Remember, more haste, less speed — check your work carefully.
- She learned that more haste, less speed when she broke the vase while rushing.
need for speed
1/nˈid fɚ spˈid/
idiom
informal
strong desire to go very fast
A strong wish to go very fast, especially while driving or racing.
Examples
- His need for speed got him into trouble with the police.
- She has always had a need for speed when skiing.
speed limit
1/spˈid lˈɪmɪt/
fixed phrase
legal maximum vehicle travel rate on road section
The fastest you can legally drive on a certain road.
Examples
- This road has a speed limit of 70 mph.
- He was caught driving over the speed limit.
speed up
1/spˈid ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
increase movement rate or progress pace
To make something or someone go faster or happen sooner.
Examples
- The driver sped up to overtake the truck.
- We need to speed up production to meet demand.