swiftly

swiftly — adverb

1. in a way that happens very fast, usually without any unnecessary pause or interr

1.adverbC2
Definition

in a way that happens very fast, usually without any unnecessary pause or interruption

Example

The fire chief acted swiftly to evacuate the building before the flames spread.

collocation: act swiftly

Without a second thought, Hassan swiftly rejected the offer that seemed too risky.

Common collocations
  • act swiftly
  • swiftly move
  • swiftly respond
  • swiftly react
  • swiftly approve
  • swiftly reject
  • swiftly become
  • swiftly change
Synonyms
  • quickly

    more general and neutral, covers all kinds of speed

  • rapidly

    suggests acceleration or a fast pace over time

  • promptly

    emphasises immediacy and punctuality rather than speed

  • fast

    informal; can also be an adjective

Antonyms
  • slowly

    the direct opposite, lacking speed entirely

  • leisurely

    suggests a relaxed, unhurried pace by choice

Grammar Patterns

swiftly + verb

verb + swiftly

Usage Note

Frequently paired with verbs of action or decision-making such as 'act', 'react', 'respond', 'move', 'approve', and 'reject'. The adverb can appear either before or after the verb, but pre-verb position is more common in everyday speech. In formal or literary writing, 'swiftly' conveys efficiency and purpose, not just raw speed — for example, 'She swiftly resolved the issue' suggests competence, whereas 'She quickly resolved the issue' simply comments on time.

Common Mistakes

The car moved swiftly' (when describing a casual trip with no urgency).
The ambulance moved swiftly through the traffic.
'swiftly' implies purpose or urgency, not just any kind of speed.

Word family

  • swift
    adjectiveB2
  • swiftness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

These four adverbs all describe speed, but with different shades. 'Quickly' (A1) is the most general and neutral — you can use it for almost any situation: 'She quickly finished her homework.' 'Swiftly' (C2) adds a sense of smooth, purposeful motion; it is often used in formal or literary contexts to suggest efficiency, not just speed: 'The rescue team swiftly moved through the rubble.' 'Rapidly' (B2) implies a fast rate of change or acceleration: 'The city rapidly expanded after the new railway opened.' 'Promptly' (B2) focuses on acting without delay rather than the speed of the action itself — a prompt reply arrives soon, not necessarily fast.

swiftly ↗quickly ↗rapidly ↗promptly

Common collocations

Phrases

  • swiftly + verb of action/motion
  • verb + swiftly for emphasis

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The adverb 'swiftly' was formed by adding the common adverb suffix '-ly' to the Old English adjective 'swift', which itself came from a Proto-Germanic root meaning 'moving at speed'. The '-ly' pattern is the standard way to turn adjectives into adverbs in English (quick → quickly, slow → slowly), and 'swiftly' has been in use since the early Middle English period, around the 13th century.