swift
gb/swˈɪft/ us/swˈɪft/
B2
English
~ 9100
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
moving or able to move fast
Moving very fast, or able to move very fast.
Usage pattern:
[something] is swift
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say 'run swift' in everyday English. In modern standard English, people usually say 'run fast' or 'run swiftly', not 'run swift', except in poetic style. Also, 'swift' is mainly an adjective; use 'swiftly' as the adverb, as in 'She moved swiftly across the room.'
Synonyms
fast (Most general word for high speed; 'swift' can sound a bit more formal or descriptive.)
|
speedy ('Speedy' is slightly more informal and often used for people or services that are quick.)
|
rapid ('Rapid' is often used in more formal or technical contexts, especially for movement or change.)
Antonyms
slow ('Slow' describes movement with low speed, the opposite of 'swift'.)
Collocations
swift runner
|swift river
|swift current
|swift pace
|swift horse
|swift movement
Themes
movement
|sports
|nature
|core_vocabulary
|travel
|transportation
Examples
- The swift river carried the fallen tree downstream in minutes.
- Cheetahs are incredibly swift hunters on the open plains.
- With a swift kick, she sent the ball flying into the net.
- The train was so swift that the two-hour journey felt very short.
- A swift wind pushed the small sailboat across the lake.
Learner examples
- The horse is very swift.
- A swift runner won the race.
- The boat moved swift across the water in the strong wind.
- A swift river can be dangerous.
- The bird made a swift turn in the sky.
adjective
B2
property
2
happening or done very quickly
Happening or done very quickly, with little or no waiting time.
Usage pattern:
a swift [decision/action/response]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only 'fast' before these nouns (e.g. 'fast action', 'fast response'). While not always wrong, 'swift action/response' is more standard and common in written and formal English. Also, do not use 'swift' as an adverb (*'They answered swift'); use 'swiftly' or 'quickly' instead.
Synonyms
quick (Very common and general; 'swift' can sound slightly more formal or written.)
|
prompt (Often used for actions taken without delay, especially in service or business contexts.)
|
immediate (Stronger; suggests happening at once, with almost no time in between.)
Antonyms
slow (Describes actions that take a long time to happen or finish.)
|
delayed (Focuses on the fact that something happened later than it should have.)
Collocations
swift action
|swift response
|swift decision
|swift recovery
|swift change
|swift punishment
Themes
time
|business
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company promised swift action to fix the problem.
- Her swift response to the email impressed the client.
- The government faced criticism for its swift decision to close the borders.
- After surgery, he made a swift recovery and returned to work within a week.
- Swift punishment followed the players’ violation of the rules.
Learner examples
- We must take swift action to save the project.
- Thank you for your swift reply.
- The manager made a swift decision.
- He had a swift recovery after the accident.
- The school took swift steps to solve the issue.
Noun
C1
entity
3
small fast-flying insect-eating bird
A small bird that flies very fast and catches insects while it is flying, looking a bit like a swallow.
Usage pattern:
a swift / a flock of swifts
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse the noun 'swift' (a type of bird) with the adjective 'swift' (fast). In writing, the bird is usually written with a lowercase 's' unless it starts a sentence or is part of a full species name, such as 'Common Swift'.
Synonyms
swallow (A different but similar-looking bird; not the same species, but often mentioned together.)
Collocations
common swift
|flock of swifts
|swifts nesting
|swifts feeding on insects
|migrating swifts
|screaming swifts
Themes
animals
|nature
Examples
- We watched a flock of swifts circle above the church tower at dusk.
- Swifts spend most of their lives in the air and rarely land on the ground.
- Each summer, swifts return to nest in the same old buildings.
- The common swift is known for its long migrations between Europe and Africa.
- Swifts and swallows can be hard to tell apart for beginner birdwatchers.
Learner examples
- A swift is a small bird that flies very fast.
- Many swifts flew over the town in the evening.
- Swifts catch insects while they are flying.
- The swifts come back to this city every summer.
- We saw swifts near the old church.
Grammar
Dictionary form
swift
IPA
GB/swˈɪft/
US/swˈɪft/
Syllables & stress
swift (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (swift)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: swift
- Comparative: swifter
- Superlative: swiftest
Noun
- Base: swift
- Plural: swifts
Word family
Expressions
swift action
1/swˈɪft ˈækʃən/
fixed phrase
quick and decisive action
Action that is taken quickly, without delay, usually to solve a problem or stop something bad.
Examples
- The company took swift action to recall the faulty products.
- Swift action by the firefighters prevented the fire from spreading.
- Swift action is needed to protect the local jobs.
swift justice
1/swˈɪft d͡ʒˈʌstɪs/
fixed phrase
very quick legal punishment
Justice or legal punishment that is given very quickly after a crime or wrong action.
Examples
- The public demanded swift justice after the shocking crime.
- Critics argued that swift justice in this case left little time to examine the evidence.
- The judge promised swift justice for anyone who broke the new law.
swift response
1/swˈɪft ɹɪspˈɑns/
fixed phrase
very quick reply or reaction
A reply or reaction that is given very quickly, without making someone wait.
Examples
- Thank you for your swift response to my request.
- The hospital staff gave a swift response when the alarm sounded.
- A swift response from the team helped keep the customer happy.