adj
swift
swihft
adj
1
Moving or happening very quickly.
"The police made a swift arrest after the robbery."
"She gave a swift reply before he'd even finished the question."
noun
1
A small, fast-flying bird that looks similar to a swallow.
"Swifts spend almost their entire lives in the air, even sleeping on the wing."
How to Use Swift
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFast — whether describing an action, a decision, or the bird named for its rapid flight.
Easily confused with
swiftlet
Common pairings
swift action
swift response
swift justice
Word Forms
swifter comparative, more swift comparative, swifts plural, swiftest superlative, most swift superlative
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Etymology
From Old English swift, "quick" — related to swivel, both tracing back to a root meaning "to twist or wind."