Word
rapidly
Phoneticsrapid·ly
US/ˈɹæpədɫi/
UK/ɹˈæpɪdli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. very fast or in a short amount of time. You use this to describe how something changes or moves quickly.
adv. at a great speed; very quickly. Often used to describe the rate of change, growth, or movement in a formal or objective context.
Examples
“The city is growing rapidly.”
“Technology is changing so rapidly that it is hard for many people to keep up with new devices.”
“The company's stock price rose rapidly following the announcement of a breakthrough in renewable energy storage, catching many market analysts by surprise.”
Examples
simple
“The city is growing rapidly.”
contextual
“Technology is changing so rapidly that it is hard for many people to keep up with new devices.”
complex
“The company's stock price rose rapidly following the announcement of a breakthrough in renewable energy storage, catching many market analysts by surprise.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “rapidly” in context.
Verb
01. rapidly develop
“The small startup began to rapidly develop new software to meet the growing market demand.”
adv + verb
02. rapidly increase
“Prices for organic produce tend to rapidly increase during the winter months.”
adv + verb
03. rapidly changing
04. rapidly developing
05. rapidly expanding
06. rapidly growing
07. rapidly spinning
08. rapidly occur
Usage
Typically placed after the verb it modifies or at the end of the clause.
Pitfall
The rapidly growth of the city
The rapid growth of the city
Learners often use the adverb 'rapidly' to modify a noun instead of the adjective 'rapid'.
Real-World Examples
“The canopy rapidly thinned as trees died , and it remained much thinner for over 100,000 years.” “The continued growth in demand for higher education shows that students recognise the value of developing the knowledge, skills and experience they need to succeed in the rapidly changing world of work.” “Their young, rapidly expanding population may alter rural land use, services, and local economies.” “The Bell Beaker people rapidly expanded and rippled out further in all directions, creating the bronze age of central Europe.” Etymology
From rapid + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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