rapidly

[ rap-id-lee ]

adverb

1. within a short period of time:

   There are thousands of languages spoken in the world today, but many of them are rapidly approaching obsolescence and extinction.

2. with great speed; swiftly:

   Bats are more likely than birds to detect rapidly spinning turbine blades and avoid flying into them.

Other Words From

• ul·tra·rap·id·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of rapidly¹

rapid ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

But an impending Trump presidency comes at a time when abortion funds have already been forced to slash budgets as the reproductive rights landscape has rapidly changed across the U.S.

From Salon

“We’re entering a time when the pie is not going to enlarge as rapidly … a time when there is going to be heightened group conflict.”

From Salon

America and the world are changing rapidly; the Democrats, the media and the mainstream political class cannot keep up.

From Salon

Mr Wilson was rushed to hospital last month where his condition deteriorated rapidly and he suffered major organ failure, but he pulled through, despite being critically ill.

From BBC

Andrew Moll, the chief inspector of Marine Accidents, said it was a "cruel lesson of how rapidly things can go dreadfully wrong".

From BBC

Related Words

• briskly
• expeditiously
• fast
• immediately
• promptly
• speedily
• swiftly