What is fast? Pronunciation and usage in English

fast means . Learn how to pronounce and use fast through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of fast

fastadjective

/fɑːst/
Definition & pronunciation of fast

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "fast" in English. There are two common pronunciations, and they're often confused!

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (American English):

  • IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet): /fæst/
  • How it sounds: It's pronounced with a short "a" sound, like in the word "cat." Then, it rhymes with "test." The "t" is a clear, sharp "t" sound.
  • Breakdown:
    • "f": Pronounced as you'd expect.
    • "a": Short "a" as in "cat" or "bat."
    • "s": A quick, single "s" sound.
    • "t": A clear, crisp "t" sound.

2. The British English Pronunciation:

  • IPA: /fɑːst/
  • How it sounds: This one has a slightly longer "a" sound, more like "father." It rhymes with “past”.
  • Breakdown:
    • "f": As before.
    • "a": A longer "a" sound, like in "father" or "car." (Think of it as a drawn-out "ah" sound.)
    • "s": A quick "s" sound.
    • "t": A clear "t" sound.

Here's a simple way to remember:

  • American: "Fæst" - like "fast test"
  • British: "Faast" - like "fast past"

Resources to hear the pronunciations:

  • Google Translate: Go to Google Translate, type "fast," and click the speaker icon. You’ll hear both pronunciations.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/fast/ - This site has pronunciations from native speakers.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you from? (American, British, or somewhere else?) This will help me narrow down the most likely pronunciation.

Usage and examples with the word fast in English

Let's break down how to use the word "fast" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with multiple meanings! Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. Speed & Velocity (Most Common)

  • Describing movement: This is the most common usage. "Fast" means moving quickly.
    • Example: “The car was driving fast down the highway.”
    • Example: "He runs fast."
    • Example: “The internet is getting faster all the time.” (Using “faster” is often more natural here, but “fast” can be used.)

2. Dieting & Abstinence

  • Refraining from eating: "Fast" refers to not eating for a period of time.
    • Example: "I'm going to fast for 24 hours for religious reasons."
    • Example: "Doctors often recommend patients fast before certain surgeries.”
    • Example: “She's on a fast diet to lose weight.”

3. Technology & Processing

  • High speed of operation: This applies to computers, machines, and data.
    • Example: "The computer is running fast." (Meaning it's processing information quickly)
    • Example: "This new processor is faster than the old one."
    • Example: "The app loads fast."

4. Informal – Quick & Efficient

  • Meaning "quickly" or "promptly": More casual usage.
    • Example: "Let's do this fast!" (Meaning let's do it quickly)
    • Example: “He’s really fast at solving puzzles.” (Meaning he is quick and good at them)

5. Adjectives (Describing something being fast)

  • "Fast" can also be used as an adjective to describe something naturally or designed to be fast.
    • Example: "A fast car." (A car that's designed for speed)
    • Example: “She’s a fast learner.” (She learns quickly)

Key Considerations & Nuances:

  • “Faster” vs. “Fast”: “Faster” is generally used when comparing speeds. “Fast” describes the speed itself. For example: "This car is faster than that one." "The runner is fast."

  • Context is Crucial: The meaning of "fast" is determined by the context of the sentence.

  • Idioms: There are some common idioms using "fast":

    • “Keep up the fast pace”: (Continue working quickly)
    • “Fast food”: (Quickly prepared, inexpensive meals)

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of sentence are you trying to build with "fast"? (e.g., describing movement, talking about food, explaining a computer process?)

Synonyms for the word fast

Practice with vocabulary fast

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. To meet the aggressive project timeline, the team had to work incredibly ____.
  2. The cheetah is renowned for its incredibly ____ speed, making it the fastest land animal.
  3. The new software update aims to improve data processing, allowing for more ____ analysis.
  4. Despite the challenges, the negotiations progressed ____, reaching a resolution ahead of schedule.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers per question)

  1. The start-up's growth has been incredibly ____, exceeding all initial projections. a) brisk b) slow c) fast d) steady

  2. To succeed in this dynamic industry, one must be ____ and responsive to new trends. a) agile b) fast c) rigid d) adaptable

  3. The express train offers a ____ journey between the two cities, significantly cutting travel time. a) rapid b) lengthy c) sluggish d) fast

  4. The legal team worked ____ to prepare the necessary documents before the deadline. a) diligently b) sluggishly c) meticulously d) carefully

  5. We need to find an ____ solution to the budget deficit before it escalates further. a) immediate b) effective c) prolonged d) delayed

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Rewrite the sentence using "fast": Original: The project team completed the task in a very short amount of time. Rewrite: The project team completed the task ____.

  2. Rewrite the sentence using "fast": Original: Her ability to pick up new programming languages is exceptionally quick. Rewrite: She is an exceptionally ____ learner of new programming languages.

  3. Rewrite the sentence without using "fast": Original: The management needs to make decisions without delay to address the current crisis. Rewrite: The management needs to make ____ decisions to address the current crisis.

Answer:

Exercise 1:

  1. fast
  2. fast
  3. efficient
  4. smoothly

Exercise 2:

  1. a) brisk, c) fast
  2. a) agile, b) fast, d) adaptable
  3. a) rapid, d) fast
  4. a) diligently, c) meticulously, d) carefully
  5. a) immediate, b) effective

Exercise 3:

  1. The project team completed the task fast.
  2. She is an exceptionally fast learner of new programming languages.
  3. The management needs to make prompt decisions to address the current crisis. (Alternative: immediate)

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