Words / B2

RAP-idl-ee/ˈræpɪdli/

Rapidly means very quickly: rose rapidly; rapidly changing. Rapid is the adjective (already in the dictionary). Quickly is everyday; swiftly is close. Case numbers rose rapidly. Use it for speed of change in data. Do not use rapidly for a slightly faster walk.

Meaning

Very quickly.

Examples

• “Case numbers rose rapidly after the festival weekend, the trust reported.”
• “Ice melted rapidly in the climate graph, which is the physical sense.”

Good to know

rise / change / spread rapidly. Adjective: rapid. Everyday: quickly. News and science graphs. Fast change, not “quite soon”.

Near in meaning

quickly

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