rapidity
gb/ɹəpˈɪdɪti/ us/ɹəpˈɪdɪti/
B2
English
~ 5700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
B2
property
1
high speed of movement or action
The state of happening or moving very fast.
Usage pattern:
the rapidity of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *rapidity* where *rapid* or *fast* is correct. *Rapidity* is a noun, so say "the rapidity of the train" or "its rapidity," not "the train is rapidity." Learners also often forget the article and preposition: the natural pattern is "the rapidity of [something]."
Synonyms
speed (The most general and common word; less formal than "rapidity".)
|
velocity (More technical and often used in science, especially physics.)
|
pace (Focuses more on the general rate of progress than on exact speed.)
Antonyms
slowness (General opposite, focusing on low speed.)
|
gradualness (Opposite in the sense of happening slowly over a long time.)
Collocations
with surprising rapidity
|with alarming rapidity
|the rapidity of change
|rapidity of movement
|increase in rapidity
Themes
daily life
|science
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The rapidity of the river's current made it dangerous to swim.
- Technological advances are progressing with astonishing rapidity.
- The disease spread through the population with alarming rapidity.
- They were surprised by the rapidity of the company's growth.
- The train's rapidity reduced the journey time by half.
Learner examples
- The rapidity of the car shocked the driver.
- The rapidity of the fire made it hard to stop.
- We were worried by the rapidity of the changes at work.
- The rapidity of the storm surprised everyone.
- The rapidity of the internet connection is very helpful.
Noun
formal
C1
property
2
quickness of thought or reaction
The state of thinking or answering very fast.
Usage pattern:
the rapidity of [someone’s] [thought/response]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with physical speed. When used with words like "thought," "response," or "decision," it refers to mental quickness, not movement. They also sometimes say "a rapidity answer" instead of "the rapidity of her answer"; remember that *rapidity* is a noun and needs a structure like "the rapidity of [something]."
Synonyms
quickness (Very close in meaning, but more common and less formal than "rapidity".)
|
mental agility (Emphasizes flexible and clever thinking, not just speed.)
|
swiftness (Formal word for speed; can be used for actions or decisions, not only thoughts.)
Antonyms
sluggishness (Suggests slow, heavy, or lazy thinking or reaction.)
|
slowness (General opposite, focusing on low speed of thought or response.)
Collocations
rapidity of thought
|rapidity of response
|rapidity of perception
|rapidity of decision
Themes
cognition
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The lawyer impressed the court with the rapidity of her responses.
- His rapidity of thought allowed him to solve the puzzle in seconds.
- In emergencies, the rapidity of a doctor's decisions can save lives.
- Teachers value students for their curiosity as well as the rapidity of their understanding.
- The debate highlighted the candidate's rapidity of wit and argument.
Learner examples
- The rapidity of her answer showed she understood the problem.
- We admired the rapidity of his decision in a difficult moment.
- The rapidity of her thinking helped the team.
- The rapidity of his response surprised the interviewer.
- Her rapidity of thought made the test easy for her.
Grammar
Dictionary form
rapidity
IPA
GB/ɹəpˈɪdɪti/
US/ɹəpˈɪdɪti/
Syllables & stress
rapid - ity (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ity)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: rapidity
- Plural: rapidities, rapidity
Word family
Expressions
with alarming rapidity
1/wˈɪθ əlˈɑɹmɪŋ ɹəpˈɪdɪti/
fixed phrase
formal
very fast and worrying
Used to say that something happens very fast in a way that makes people worried or afraid.
Examples
- The disease is spreading with alarming rapidity in rural areas.
- Costs are rising with alarming rapidity for many families.
- The glaciers are melting with alarming rapidity due to climate change.
with increasing rapidity
1/wˈɪθ ɪŋkɹˈisɪŋ ɹəpˈɪdɪti/
fixed phrase
formal
faster and faster over time
Used to say that something keeps happening faster and faster as time goes on.
Examples
- The car moved with increasing rapidity down the steep hill.
- Events unfolded with increasing rapidity as the crisis deepened.
- Technology is changing with increasing rapidity in this field.
with surprising rapidity
1/wˈɪθ səpɹˈaɪzɪŋ ɹəpˈɪdɪti/
fixed phrase
formal
much faster than expected
Used to say that something happens much faster than people thought it would.
Examples
- The rumor spread through the office with surprising rapidity.
- The city has grown with surprising rapidity over the last decade.
- Her health improved with surprising rapidity after the operation.