Hasty vs It was very fast

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Hasty

Top 5,000 (fairly common)B1adjective

It was very fast

Top 1,000 (very common)
Most common: It was very fast
 HastyIt was very fast
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ˈheɪ sti//🇺🇸 //ˈheɪsti//🇬🇧 //ɪt wəz ˈvɛri fæst//🇺🇸 //ɪt wəz ˈvɛri fæst//
MeaningDoing things quickly without thinking carefully.It happened quickly.
ExampleHis hasty decision led to unexpected consequences.The cheetah was very fast when chasing its prey.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 5,000 (fairly common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationshasty decision, hasty retreat, hasty judgmentvery fast pace, very fast speed, very fast response
Antonymsslow, careful, deliberate-
Common mistakesConfusing '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.Using it with 'too' - 'It was too fast' could imply negativity., Confusing with 'fastly' - 'Fast' is the correct adverb here.
Usage notesUse '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.Use to describe something that happens quickly. Avoid informal settings where a tighter description might be better.

See it in real clips

It was very fast

Frequently asked questions: Hasty vs It was very fast

What's the difference between Hasty and It was very fast?

Hasty: Doing things quickly without thinking carefully. It was very fast: It happened quickly.

Which is more common: Hasty and It was very fast?

It was very fast is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Hasty: His hasty decision led to unexpected consequences. It was very fast: The cheetah was very fast when chasing its prey.

Can I use Hasty and It was very fast interchangeably?

Not always. Hasty and It was very fast 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.

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