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lightspeed

lightspeed

1 4.0
A very fast rate of movement or progress
  • noun
  • /ˈlaɪtˌspiːd/
  • Informal
translation icon : velocidad de la luz
  • Technology moves at lightspeed compared to the law.

The business world is changing at lightspeed.

Examples

  • The team completed the project at lightspeed, finishing weeks ahead of schedule.

  • Sir, the Resistance cruiser's preparing to jump to lightspeed.

  • - Can we jump to lightspeed?

  • We're going out of here at lightspeed.

  • We can jump to lightspeed!

  • But it was still a lightspeed leap forward before Ganymede.

  • Have the cruiser prepped for lightspeed.

  • The rest had to settle for sending their messages by lightspeed dataflow, and that put a natural wall between one-on-one conversations.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The internet allows information to spread at lightspeed across the globe.

  • In today's fast-paced world, technology develops at lightspeed.

Synonyms

fast pace
vslightspeed
10 2.5

A speed that is quicker than usual for a task or activity

is stronger and more extreme in speed and informality than this phrase
lightning speed
vslightspeed
6 3.4

Very fast movement that happens almost instantly

is an informal way to mean very fast but not necessarily sudden
rapid pace
vslightspeed
6 2.9

A speed of progress much faster than usual

is an informal emphatic label for extremely fast movement
rapidity
vslightspeed
6 4.6

Very fast movement, action, or change

is an informal term stressing very fast progress rather than neutral description
swiftness
vslightspeed
5 2.9

Great speed in moving or acting

expresses extreme rapidity informally rather than the general quality
speed of light
vslightspeed
4 4.0

A phrase used to say something happens very fast

is an informal expression meaning extremely rapid movement rather than literal physics
rapidness
vslightspeed
3.6

The speed at which something moves or happens

is more emphatic and informal than this plain quality of quickness
speediness
vslightspeed
2.8

How fast something happens or is done

is a more informal, emphatic way to mean very rapid movement

Antonyms

slow
  • Informal
8 1.0

At a low speed

Idioms

at lightspeed
  • Informal
1 5.1

To happen or be done very quickly

Compounds

Very fast improvement in a project or task

How Fast

lightspeed
  • Informal
1 4.0
rapidity
6 4.6
velocity
  • Specialized
154 4.5
speed
1.0
pace
409 2.0

Surface Forms

lightspeed singular
lightspeeds plural

Morphology

lightspeed = light + speed (transparent) = light + speed

A direct noun compound meaning an extremely fast rate; the metaphorical use is straightforward from the components.

Etymology

The word lightspeed is formed from light and speed. It comes from the idea of the 'speed of light', so as a noun it often means doing something 'very quickly'.