swift

Word family

swift1 /swɪft/ adjectiveadj

1 FAST/QUICKhappening or done quickly and immediately 迅速的；立刻的

My letter received a swift reply.

我的信很快就得到了回複。

She shot a swift glance at Paul.

她迅速瞥了保羅一眼。

swift to do something

They were swift to deny the accusations.

他們立刻否認這些指控。

2 [only before noun]FAST/QUICK moving, or able to move, very fast （能）迅速移動的；速度非常快的

a swift runner

跑得飛快的人

She wiped her tears away in one swift movement.

她迅速擦去眼淚。

► see thesaurus at fast

3. somebody is not too swift American EnglishAmE spoken used to say that someone is not very intelligent 某人不太聰明，某人笨

Examples from the Corpus

somebody is not too swift• Eric's not too swift, is he?

—swiftly adverbadv

Alice dressed swiftly.

艾麗斯很快穿好衣服。

—swiftness noun [uncountableU]

Examples from the Corpus

swift• Their victory was swift and decisive.• Punishment of the protesters was swift and severe.• We had to steer our ship through the swift currents of the Bering Straits.• With the hood open he made a swift examination of the engine.• Swift fashion changes mean that the shop has to change its stock every six to eight weeks.• While, at a superficial level, the titles might well mislead, a swift glance at the contents is reassuring.• With two swift motions she pinned him.• But only the swiftest of action will save a woman who's already lost her husband from losing her home as well.• His swift progress made a life in music almost inevitable.• They slew the gentle musician, tearing him limb from limb, and flung the severed head into the swift river Hebrus.• The drop was so swift that the engine stalled briefly, then coughed into action.• The horses ran along the track at a swift trot.

swift to do something• They are a wild, free-spirited people, quick-tempered as Elves go, and swift to avenge any stain on their honour.• She loved her lessons, always asking questions, swift to learn, greedy for more information.• A basic condition of joining is the willingness to be arrested, and the authorities have been swift to oblige.