Meanings
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1
adj
Happening or moving very quickly.
The government promised swift action against the criminals.
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2
adv
In a quick way; swiftly.
Light boats sail swift, even where larger ships move slowly.
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3
noun
A small fast-flying bird with long, narrow wings.
Swifts darted through the evening sky catching insects.
Thesaurus
Word family
Forms
swifterswiftestswifts
Derived forms
over-swiftoverswiftswift-boatswift-boatingswift-flowingswift-flyingswift-footedswift-handedswift-thinkingswiftboatswiftboatingswiftfooted
Related forms
swift-footednessswift-handednessswiftfootednessswifthandedness
Etymology
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.
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