speed.
The state of moving quickly or the capacity for rapid motion.
Meaning & usage
The state of moving quickly or the capacity for rapid motion.
How does Usain Bolt run at that speed?
The rate of motion or action, specifically the magnitude of the velocity; the rate distance is traversed in a given time.
Speed limits provide information to the drivers about the safe speed to travel in average conditions.
The sensitivity to light of film, plates or sensor.
The duration of exposure, the time during which a camera shutter is open (shutter speed).
The largest size of the lens opening at which a lens can be used.
The ratio of the focal length to the diameter of a photographic objective.
Amphetamine or any amphetamine-based drug (especially methamphetamine) used as a stimulant, especially illegally.
Luck, success, prosperity.
Personal preference.
We could go to the shore next week, or somewhere else if that's not your speed.
A third-order measure of derivative price sensitivity, expressed as the rate of change of gamma with respect to changes in the underlying asset price.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English sped (“prosperity, good luck, quickness, success”), from Old English spēd (“success”), from Proto-West Germanic *spōdi (“prosperity, success”), from Proto-West Germanic *spōan, from Proto-Germanic *spōaną (“to prosper, succeed, be happy”), from Proto-Indo-European *speh₁- (“to prosper, turn out well”). Cognate with Scots spede, speid (“success, quickness, speed”), Dutch spoed (“haste; speed”), German Low German Spood (“haste; speed; eagerness; success”), German Sput (“progress, acceleration, haste”). Related also to Old English spōwan (“to be successful, succeed”), Albanian shpejt (“to speed, to hurry”) and Russian спеши́ть (spešítʹ, “to hurry”), Latin spēs (“hope, expectation”), spērō (“hope”, verb), perhaps also to Ancient Greek σπεύδω (speúdō, “to urge on, hasten, press on”).
Called by the soundman when the recording equipment has reached running speed and is ready to go.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English sped (“prosperity, good luck, quickness, success”), from Old English spēd (“success”), from Proto-West Germanic *spōdi (“prosperity, success”), from Proto-West Germanic *spōan, from Proto-Germanic *spōaną (“to prosper, succeed, be happy”), from Proto-Indo-European *speh₁- (“to prosper, turn out well”). Cognate with Scots spede, speid (“success, quickness, speed”), Dutch spoed (“haste; speed”), German Low German Spood (“haste; speed; eagerness; success”), German Sput (“progress, acceleration, haste”). Related also to Old English spōwan (“to be successful, succeed”), Albanian shpejt (“to speed, to hurry”) and Russian спеши́ть (spešítʹ, “to hurry”), Latin spēs (“hope, expectation”), spērō (“hope”, verb), perhaps also to Ancient Greek σπεύδω (speúdō, “to urge on, hasten, press on”).
To succeed; to prosper, be lucky.
To help someone, to give them fortune; to aid or favour.
God speed, until we meet again.
To go fast.
The Ferrari was speeding along the road.
To exceed the speed limit.
Why do you speed when the road is so icy?
To increase the rate at which something occurs.
To be under the influence of stimulant drugs, especially amphetamines.
To be expedient.
To hurry to destruction; to put an end to; to ruin.
To wish success or good fortune to, in any undertaking, especially in setting out upon a journey.
To cause to make haste; to dispatch with celerity; to drive at full speed; hence, to hasten; to hurry.
To hasten to a conclusion; to expedite.
Where this word comes from
From Middle English speden, from Old English spēdan (“to speed, prosper, succeed, have success”), from Proto-West Germanic *spōdijan (“to succeed”). Cognate with Scots spede, speid (“to meet with success, assist, promote, accomplish, speed”), Dutch spoeden (“to hurry, rush”), Low German spoden, spöden (“to hasten, speed”), German sputen, spuden (“to speed”).
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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.
Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.