swiftly

swiftly — adverb

1. in a way that happens very fast, usually without any unnecessary pause or interr

1.副詞C2
釋義

in a way that happens very fast, usually without any unnecessary pause or interruption

例句

The fire chief acted swiftly to evacuate the building before the flames spread.

collocation: act swiftly

Without a second thought, Hassan swiftly rejected the offer that seemed too risky.

同義詞
  • quickly

    more general and neutral, covers all kinds of speed

  • rapidly

    suggests acceleration or a fast pace over time

  • promptly

    emphasises immediacy and punctuality rather than speed

  • fast

    informal; can also be an adjective

反義詞
  • slowly

    the direct opposite, lacking speed entirely

  • leisurely

    suggests a relaxed, unhurried pace by choice

文法句型

swiftly + verb

verb + swiftly

用法筆記

Frequently paired with verbs of action or decision-making such as 'act', 'react', 'respond', 'move', 'approve', and 'reject'. The adverb can appear either before or after the verb, but pre-verb position is more common in everyday speech. In formal or literary writing, 'swiftly' conveys efficiency and purpose, not just raw speed — for example, 'She swiftly resolved the issue' suggests competence, whereas 'She quickly resolved the issue' simply comments on time.

常見錯誤

❌The car moved swiftly' (when describing a casual trip with no urgency).
✅The ambulance moved swiftly through the traffic.
💡'swiftly' implies purpose or urgency, not just any kind of speed.