Swift Meaning
/swɪft/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjFast; quick; rapid.
adjCapable of moving at high speeds.
Sentence Examples
Shareholders were concerned about the company's swift expansion overseas.
The swallow is swift in flight.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ cheetah ran faster than any other animal on the plain.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The bird made a ____ movement across the sky to catch a small insect that was flying nearby today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English swift, from Old English swift (“swift; quick”), from Proto-Germanic *swiftaz (“swift; quick”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)weyp- (“to twist; wind around”). Cognate with Icelandic svipta (“to pull quickly”), Old English swīfan (“to revolve, sweep, wend, intervene”). More at swivel.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Spain were provoked into a response and Villa almost provided a swift equaliser when he rounded Hart but found the angle too acute and could only hit the side-netting."
— 2011 November 12, Phil McNulty, “International friendly: England 1-0 Spain”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 25 Jun 2021:
"The call, which is the first known conversation between the presidents since Trump assumed office last month, came as as^([sic]) Trump makes clear to his advisers he wants to bring the Ukraine conflict to a swift end."
— 2025 February 12, Kaitlan Collins, Kevin Liptak, “After Putin call, Trump says negotiations to end Ukraine war will start ‘immediately’”, in CNN, archived from the original on 15 Apr 2025:
"That's what limos do — advertise, and he should have known that. But, as I told you before, officer, he's not too swift."
— 2011, Paul A. Lavallee, Firewatch, page 44:
"Light boats sail swift, though greater hulks draw deep."
— c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]:
"Ply swift and strong the oar."
— 1793, Robert Southey, Lord William:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ cheetah ran faster than any other animal on the plain.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The bird made a ____ movement across the sky to catch a small insect that was flying nearby today.