Definition

The quality of moving quickly or being fast.

Example

The swiftness of the cheetah allows it to catch its prey easily.

Conversation

Did you see how fast he finished the race?

Yeah, his swiftness was impressive!

I wonder if he trains specifically for that kind of speed.

I bet he does — it takes a lot of practice to achieve that swiftness.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Swiftness is formed from "swift" (from Old English "swift", meaning quick or fast) and "-ness" (a suffix meaning the state or quality of). The word "swiftness" refers to the quality of being quick or fast.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'swift' meaning quick, and remember that 'swiftness' describes the quality of being quick.

Visually Confused Words