Fastest
/ˈfɑːstɪst/
Definitions
2 meaningsBeing the highest in speed.
/ˈfɑːstɪst/
Moving or capable of moving at high speed.
The fastest runner won the race.
💡 Simply: Imagine a race car speeding down the track. The fastest car is the one that gets to the finish line first! It means it's moving really quickly.
👶 For kids: The fastest thing is the one that goes the quickest!
More Examples
This is the fastest way to get to the city.
My computer is the fastest I've ever had.
How It's Used
"The cheetah is the fastest land animal."
"This is the fastest internet connection available."
In the most rapid or quickest manner.
/ˈfɑːstɪst/
In a rapid or quick manner.
She completed the task fastest.
💡 Simply: When you do something as quickly as possible; the speediest way something can be done
👶 For kids: When you do something in a very quick way.
More Examples
We reached the destination fastest by car.
The system processed the data fastest than anticipated.
How It's Used
"He ran the fastest in the competition."
From Old English *fæst* ('firm, fixed') + *-est* (superlative suffix). The Old English word evolved through Middle English, becoming modern 'fast' which then, through the comparative and superlative forms ('faster', 'fastest'), became the word used today.
Used in literature and everyday speech since Middle English, with its meaning remaining largely consistent over time as the superlative of 'fast'.
Memory tip
Think of a race; the fastest person wins!