Sped: meaning, definitions and examples

🏎️
Add to dictionary

sped

 

[ spɛd ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

movement, speed

The word 'sped' is the simple past tense and past participle of the verb 'speed,' which means to move quickly or to accelerate. This term generally refers to the act of increasing the pace of travel or action. It can also imply doing something in a hurried or frantic manner. In contexts like driving or racing, 'sped' conveys a sense of urgency and rapidity. It may also be used in various idiomatic expressions to emphasize the quickness of an action.

Synonyms

bolted, darted, hastened, rushed, zoomed

Examples of usage

  • He sped down the highway.
  • She sped through her homework.
  • The athlete sped towards the finish line.
  • The car sped past us.
  • They sped to catch the train.
Context #2 | Noun

speed, rate

'Sped' can also refer to speed in a more abstract sense, often relating to the rate at which something happens. This usage can be found in discussions about efficiency, performance metrics, or temporal measurements. While less common, the term captures the essence of rapidity in various activities or processes. This use is often seen in technical or academic contexts.

Synonyms

pace, quickness, rate, swiftness, velocity

Examples of usage

  • The sped of the machine was impressive.
  • Their work had a high sped.
  • She analyzed the sped of the calculations.

Translations

Translations of the word "sped" in other languages:

🇵🇹 velocidade

🇮🇳 गति

🇩🇪 Geschwindigkeit

🇮🇩 kecepatan

🇺🇦 швидкість

🇵🇱 prędkość

🇯🇵 スピード

🇫🇷 vitesse

🇪🇸 velocidad

🇹🇷 hız

🇰🇷 속도

🇸🇦 سرعة

🇨🇿 rychlost

🇸🇰 rýchlosť

🇨🇳 速度

🇸🇮 hitrost

🇮🇸 hraða

🇰🇿 жылдамдық

🇬🇪 სიჩქარე

🇦🇿 sürət

🇲🇽 velocidad

Word origin

The term 'sped' originates from the Middle English word 'speden,' which means to prosper or to make haste. This traces back to the Old English 'spādan,' which also relates to speed and rapidity. Historical usage has evolved to encompass the idea of both physical speed and the metaphorical sense of hastening a process or action. Over time, it became formalized in English as both a verb and a description of speed, particularly in contexts of movement and efficiency. The relationship between the word and its roots illustrates humanity's long-standing fascination with the concepts of speed and swiftness, as well as the evolving nature of language that incorporates these essential human experiences.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,692, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.