Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Moving or capable of moving at high speed: Describes something that operates, travels, or functions quickly.
   • Firmly fixed or attached: Describes something that is secure, tight, or not easily moved.
   • Loyal and steadfast: Describes a person or relationship that is unwavering, close, and reliable.
   • Resistant to change or fading: Describes colors or materials that do not run, fade, or deteriorate easily.
   • Ahead of the correct time: Describes a clock or watch showing a time later than the actual time.
   • Promoting rapid movement: Describes a surface or condition that allows for quick travel.
   • Living in a wild and unrestrained way: Describes a lifestyle or person considered morally unrestrained or dissolute.

2. Adverb:

   • At high speed; quickly: Describes the manner of an action performed with great rapidity.
   • Firmly, securely, or tightly: Describes the state of being fixed in place.
   • Deeply or soundly: Describes a state like sleep that is profound.

3. Verb:

   • To abstain from all or some kinds of food or drink: To voluntarily refrain from eating, often for religious, health, or ritual reasons.

4. Noun:

   • An act or period of fasting: The practice or instance of abstaining from food.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • She drives a fast car. (It is capable of high speed.)
  • Make sure the knot is fast. (Make sure the knot is secure and tight.)
  • They have been fast friends for decades. (They have been very close and loyal friends.)
  • This dye provides fast colors that won't fade. (The colors are permanent.)
  • My watch is five minutes fast. (It shows a time five minutes ahead of the real time.)
  • The new road is very fast. (It allows vehicles to travel quickly.)

• Adverb:

  • Please don't speak so fast. (Please don't speak so quickly.)
  • The door was stuck fast and wouldn't open. (The door was firmly jammed shut.)
  • The baby was fast asleep. (The baby was sleeping deeply.)

• Verb:

  • Many people fast during Ramadan. (They abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset.)
  • You must fast for 12 hours before the blood test. (You must not eat for 12 hours.)

• Noun:

  • He began a 24-hour fast. (He began a 24-hour period of not eating.)
  • Breaking the fast with a healthy meal is important. (Ending the period of fasting.)

Advanced Usage

• "To make fast": To secure something firmly.

  • The sailors made the boat fast to the dock. (They secured the boat tightly to the dock.)

• "Fast and loose": Behaving in a reckless, unreliable, or deceitful manner.

  • He played fast and loose with the company's finances. (He handled the money irresponsibly and dishonestly.)

• "Fast track": A route or method that allows for rapid progress or advancement.

  • She was put on the fast track to management. (She was given opportunities for very quick promotion.)

Variants and Related Words

• Fasten (verb): To close or attach securely.
  • Fasten your seatbelt.
• Fastness (noun): 1. A secure or fortified place. 2. The quality of being fixed or colorfast.
  • The mountain fastness was hard to attack.
• Fast-breaking (adj): Happening or changing very quickly (often used in news).
  • We are following the fast-breaking developments.

Synonyms

• Adjective (Quick): Rapid, swift, speedy, quick.
• Adjective (Fixed): Secure, firm, tight, immovable.
• Adjective (Loyal): Staunch, steadfast, true, devoted.
• Verb: Abstain, refrain, go without food.
• Adverb (Quickly): Rapidly, swiftly, speedily, hastily.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Fasten on/upon: To single out and focus on something.
  • The reporter fastened on the mayor's earlier statement. (The reporter focused attention on it.)

Related Idioms

• Hard and fast: Rigid and definite (usually referring to rules).
  • There are no hard and fast rules for this. (There are no strict, inflexible rules.)
• Pull a fast one: To deceive or trick someone.
  • He tried to pull a fast one on his boss, but he got caught. (He tried to trick his boss.)
• Thick and fast: In large numbers and rapidly.
  • Complaints were coming in thick and fast. (Many complaints arrived quickly.)

Verb

1. abstain from eating
   • Before the medical exam, you must fast
2. abstain from certain foods, as for religious or medical reasons
   • Catholics sometimes fast during Lent

Adjective

1. (of a photographic lens or emulsion) causing a shortening of exposure time
   • a fast lens
2. unwavering in devotion to friend or vow or cause
   • a firm ally
   • loyal supporters
   • the true-hearted soldier...of Tippecanoe- Campaign song for William Henry Harrison
   • fast friends
3. securely fixed in place
   • the post was still firm after being hit by the car
4. hurried and brief
   • paid a flying visit
   • took a flying glance at the book
   • a quick inspection
   • a fast visit
5. unrestrained by convention or morality
   • Congreve draws a debauched aristocratic society
   • deplorably dissipated and degraded
   • riotous living
   • fast women
6. resistant to destruction or fading
   • fast colors
7. (of surfaces) conducive to rapid speeds
   • a fast road
   • grass courts are faster than clay
8. at a rapid tempo
   • the band played a fast fox trot
9. (used of timepieces) indicating a time ahead of or later than the correct time
   • my watch is fast
10. acting or moving or capable of acting or moving quickly
    • fast film
    • on the fast track in school
    • set a fast pace
    • a fast car

Noun

1. abstaining from food

Adverb

1. firmly or closely
   • held fast to the rope
   • her foot was stuck fast
   • held tight
2. quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)
   • how fast can he get here?
   • ran as fast as he could
   • needs medical help fast
   • fast-running rivers
   • fast-breaking news
   • fast-opening (or fast-closing) shutters