high-speed

high-speed — noun

1. the rate at which something moves, works, or happens when it is going noticeably

1.nounB1
Definition

the rate at which something moves, works, or happens when it is going noticeably faster than what is normal or typical for that thing

Example

The train was travelling at high speed when it passed through the station.

collocation: at high speed

Brooke could not keep up with the high speed of the factory production line.

possessive: the high speed of [something]

Common collocations
  • at high speed
  • high speed of
Synonyms
  • fast pace

    more general; not limited to mechanical or vehicular contexts

  • rapid rate

    slightly more formal; often used for processes and changes

Antonyms
  • low speed

    the direct opposite in the same 'at low speed' phrase pattern

Grammar Patterns

at + high speed

Usage Note

This noun sense is almost always used in the fixed phrase 'at high speed' to describe the rate of movement, operation, or change. It is uncountable and rarely appears with an article.

Common Mistakes

The car drove with high-speed on the highway.
The car drove at high speed on the highway.
The preposition for this noun phrase is 'at', not 'with'.

high-speed — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe something that moves or happens with little time, but they differ in usage. Fast is the most common and versatile — it works before a noun ('a fast car') and after a linking verb ('the car is fast'). Rapid is more formal and often suggests continuous motion or change ('rapid growth', 'rapid pulse'). Speedy emphasises efficiency and quick completion of a task ('speedy delivery', 'speedy response'). Quick is informal and can describe both short duration and fast movement ('a quick snack', 'a quick runner'). High-speed differs from all of these because it is a compound adjective used almost exclusively before a noun and carries a technical or mechanical tone — a high-speed train is a specific kind of train, not just a fast one. It would sound odd to say 'a high-speed decision' or 'a high-speed runner'.

fast ↗rapid ↗speedy ↗quick ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • at high speed

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

High-speed is a compound adjective formed by combining 'high' (from Old English hēah, meaning great in degree or elevated) and 'speed' (from Old English spēd, meaning success, prosperity, or swiftness). The compound came into common use in the mid-19th century, when advances in railway and industrial technology created a need for a term that described machinery designed to operate far faster than ordinary equipment.