rapidity

[ ruh-pid-i-tee ]

noun

1. a rapid state or quality; quickness; celerity.

   Synonyms: fleetness, swiftness

Word History and Origins

Origin of rapidity¹

From the Latin word rapiditās, dating back to 1610–20. See rapid, -ity

Synonym Study

See speed.

Example Sentences

Every year I turn another year older, I become more and more aware of time, of the rapidity of life and of all the things I want to do before it’s all over.

From Los Angeles Times

The rapidity of space exploration is now “outpacing our laws”, he says.

From BBC

"Its simplicity and rapidity make it particularly well-suited for studying metabolic changes."

From Science Daily

But given the recent rapidity of climate change, there are no guarantees that the trends of the past will continue to hold in the future.

From Los Angeles Times

The "rapidity and repetition" of Trump's attacks are also "striking" in revealing "where his focus and his energy" are, especially on Easter Sunday, she noted.

From Salon

Related Words

• alacrity
• swiftness
• velocity