Cool MateFast vs Hasty vs Quick vs Speedy
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Fast
Hasty
Quick
Speedy
| Fast | Hasty | Quick | Speedy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/fɑːst/"]/🇺🇸 /["/fæst/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈheɪ sti//🇺🇸 //ˈheɪsti// | 🇬🇧 /["/kwɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kwɪk/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈspiːdi//🇺🇸 //ˈspiːdi// |
| Meaning | Moving or happening quickly. | Doing things quickly without thinking carefully. | happening fast or in a short time | moving or happening quickly |
| Example | She runs very fast when she is late for school. | His hasty decision led to unexpected consequences. | She took a quick glance at the clock. | The delivery service is known for its speedy arrival times. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B1 | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, extremely, fairly, very, be, seem, extremely, fairly, very | hasty decision, hasty retreat, hasty judgment | be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very, at, quick and easy, be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very, at, quick and easy, be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very, at, quick and easy | speedy delivery, speedy recovery, speedy service, speedy response |
| Antonyms | slow | slow, careful, deliberate | slow, leisurely | slow, sluggish, lethargic |
| Common mistakes | 'Fast' is sometimes confused with 'quick' improperly., Learners often forget that 'fast' can be used for both time and physical speed., Some may incorrectly add 'ly' to make it an adverb (fastly). | Confusing 'hasty' with 'hasty decision', thinking it applies only to choices., Using 'hasty' as a noun or verb instead of an adjective., Forgetting that 'hasty' implies negative connotations. | Confused with 'fast' — while similar, 'quick' often implies a short duration., Using 'quicker' instead of 'more quick' — 'quick' forms a comparative like 'quicker'., Mixing up noun and adjective forms; remember 'quick' is an adjective. | Confusing 'speedy' with 'fast' which are often interchangeable but 'speedy' can imply efficiency., Using 'speedy' for slow processes, which is incorrect., Forget to pair 'speedy' with a noun, leading to incomplete expressions. |
| Usage notes | Use 'fast' to describe speed, but be cautious when using it with 'to' (as in 'to fast', it means to not eat for a period of time). Appropriate in both written and spoken contexts. | Use 'hasty' to describe actions taken too quickly, often leading to mistakes. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it in overly casual conversations. | Used to describe actions or things that happen with speed. Avoid using in very formal situations; instead, use 'rapid' or 'swift'. | Use 'speedy' in contexts where quickness is praised. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English, but more common in informal settings. |
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Frequently asked questions: Fast vs Hasty vs Quick vs Speedy
What's the difference between Fast, Hasty, Quick, and Speedy?
Fast: Moving or happening quickly. Hasty: Doing things quickly without thinking carefully. Quick: happening fast or in a short time Speedy: moving or happening quickly
Which is more advanced: Fast, Hasty, Quick, and Speedy?
Hasty is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Fast: She runs very fast when she is late for school. Hasty: His hasty decision led to unexpected consequences. Quick: She took a quick glance at the clock. Speedy: The delivery service is known for its speedy arrival times.
Can I use Fast, Hasty, Quick, and Speedy interchangeably?
Not always. Fast, Hasty, Quick, and Speedy are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.