Definition

Adjective: 1. Having a high rate of growth; expanding or increasing in size, number, or extent very quickly. This describes something that develops or proliferates at a rapid pace.

Usage

The adjective "fast-growing" is used attributively (before a noun) or predicatively (after a linking verb like "is" or "are"). It describes the rapid expansion or development of a subject. - Attributive use: It is most commonly placed directly before the noun it modifies. - Predicative use: It can follow a linking verb to describe the subject's state.

Examples

• Attributive use:
  • The company is a fast-growing startup in the tech industry.
  • Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that can be used for construction.
• Predicative use:
  • The city's population is fast-growing.
  • This sector of the economy has been fast-growing for the past decade.

Advanced Usage

• "fast-growing" in economic/business contexts: Often used to describe companies, markets, or industries experiencing rapid expansion.
  • Investors are keen on fast-growing emerging markets.
• "fast-growing" in biological/medical contexts: Used to describe cells, plants, or, as in the reference, tumors that proliferate quickly.
  • The doctor was concerned about the fast-growing nature of the infection.

Variants and Related Words

• Rapidly growing: A near-identical synonym, often used interchangeably.
• Fast-expanding: Similar in meaning, with a slight emphasis on increase in scope or area.
• Fast-growth (noun): Used as a compound noun, e.g., "The fast-growth of the company surprised everyone."

Synonyms

• Rapidly expanding
• Quickly developing
• Booming (especially for businesses or economies)
• Proliferating (especially in biological contexts)

Antonyms

• Slow-growing
• Stagnant
• Declining

Related Phrases

• Fast-growing tree: A common phrase in horticulture and environmental science.
• Fast-growing economy: A standard phrase in economics and finance.

Adjective

1. tending to spread quickly
   • an aggressive tumor