Speed is all around us, from the zooming cars on the highway to the lightning-fast progress of technology. But how do we express the concept of speed in words?
Enter similes – those handy comparisons that help us relate one thing to another. In this article, we’ll explore the world of similes for speed using everyday comparisons that are as easy to understand as a breeze on a sunny day.
What is a simile for speed?
A simile is a figure of speech that compares one thing to another, using the words “like” or “as.” When we want to describe something’s speed, we often turn to similes to paint a vivid picture in the listener’s mind.
These comparisons make the concept of speed relatable and easily understandable. Let’s delve into the meanings and usage of some popular similes for speed.
| Simile | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Swift as a coursing river | Extremely fast, like the flow of a river | The athlete sprinted across the finish line, swift as a coursing river. |
| Fast as a speeding bullet | Incredibly rapid, comparable to a bullet | The car raced down the highway, fast as a speeding bullet. |
| Quick as lightning | Extremely rapid, like the speed of lightning | She responded to the question, quick as lightning. |
| Speedy as a gazelle | Very fast, resembling the swiftness of a gazelle | The new athlete on the track was as speedy as a gazelle. |
| Rapid as a cheetah | Swift and prompt, like the speed of a cheetah | The computer processed the data, rapid as a cheetah. |
| Fleet as a falcon | Moving swiftly, similar to the speed of a falcon | The spaceship traversed the galaxy, fleet as a falcon. |
| Brisk as the wind | Lively and quick, akin to the briskness of the wind | The bicycle sped down the hill, brisk as the wind. |
| Like a hare on the run | As fast as a hare in motion, rapid and agile | The sprinter dashed across the track like a hare on the run. |
| Quick as a wink | Extremely fast, happening in the blink of an eye | The magician’s trick was over quick as a wink. |
| Speeding like a rocket | Moving rapidly and forcefully, like a rocket | The car accelerated, speeding like a rocket. |
| Rapid as a shooting star | Very fast, comparable to the speed of a shooting star | The car shot across the sky, rapid as a shooting star. |
| Swift as an arrow | Moving with great speed and accuracy, like an arrow | The message spread through the internet, swift as an arrow. |
| Fast as a whirling dervish | Extremely fast and energetic, like the movements of a whirling dervish | The dancer twirled on stage, fast as a whirling dervish. |
| Quick as a thought | Happening with great speed, comparable to the speed of a thought | The idea struck her, quick as a thought. |
| Speedy as a hare | Very fast and agile, similar to the speed of a hare | The sprinter was as speedy as a hare on the track. |
| Like a bat out of hell | Extremely fast and with urgency | The car sped away from the scene like a bat out of hell. |
| Swift as a swallow | Moving with great speed and agility, resembling a swallow’s flight | The fighter jet soared through the sky, swift as a swallow. |
| Rapid as a race car | Moving at a high speed, like a race car | The skateboarder raced down the hill, rapid as a race car. |
| Fast as a thoroughbred | Extremely fast and agile, like a thoroughbred horse | The cyclist pedaled, fast as a thoroughbred. |
| Quick as a blink | Extremely fast, happening in the time it takes to blink | The decision was made, quick as a blink. |
| Speedy as a tornado | Moving with great speed and force, resembling a tornado | The news spread through the town, speedy as a tornado. |
| Fleet as a jet plane | Moving swiftly and efficiently, like a jet plane | The company expanded, fleet as a jet plane. |
| Brisk as a hare in motion | Moving quickly and energetically, like a hare in motion | The squirrel climbed the tree, brisk as a hare in motion. |
| Like a falcon in flight | Rapid and graceful, resembling a falcon in flight | The basketball player moved across the court, like a falcon in flight. |
| Rapid as a roller coaster | Moving at a high speed with sudden changes, like a roller coaster | The roller coaster descended, rapid as a roller coaster. |
| Swift as a zephyr | Moving with a gentle and swift breeze, like a zephyr | The leaves fluttered to the ground, swift as a zephyr. |
| Fast as a locomotive | Moving at a high speed, comparable to a locomotive | The train raced down the tracks, fast as a locomotive. |
| Quick as a heartbeat | Extremely fast, comparable to the speed of a heartbeat | The news struck her, quick as a heartbeat. |
His car was like a rocket on wheels, zooming down the highway at lightning speed. If you’re interested in idioms related to speed, you can find them here: idioms for speed. Additionally, if you want to explore metaphors for describing speed, you can check them out at this link: metaphors for speed.
Similes for Speed
1. Swift as a coursing river.
Meaning: Extremely fast, like the flow of a river.
In a Sentence: The athlete sprinted across the finish line, swift as a coursing river.
2. Fast as a speeding bullet.
Meaning: Incredibly rapid, comparable to the speed of a bullet.
In a Sentence: The car raced down the highway, fast as a speeding bullet.
3. Quick as lightning.
Meaning: Extremely rapid, just like the speed of lightning.
In a Sentence: She responded to the question, quick as lightning.
4. Speedy as a gazelle.
Meaning: Very fast, resembling the swiftness of a gazelle.
In a Sentence: The new athlete on the track was as speedy as a gazelle.
5. Rapid as a cheetah.
Meaning: Swift and prompt, like the speed of a cheetah.
In a Sentence: The computer processed the data, rapid as a cheetah.
6. Fleet as a falcon.
Meaning: Moving swiftly, similar to the speed of a falcon.
In a Sentence: The spaceship traversed the galaxy, fleet as a falcon.
7. Brisk as the wind.
Meaning: Lively and quick, akin to the briskness of the wind.
In a Sentence: The bicycle sped down the hill, brisk as the wind.
8. Like a hare on the run.
Meaning: As fast as a hare in motion, rapid and agile.
In a Sentence: The sprinter dashed across the track like a hare on the run.
9. Quick as a wink.
Meaning: Extremely fast, happening in the blink of an eye.
In a Sentence: The magician’s trick was over quick as a wink.
10. Speeding like a rocket.
Meaning: Moving rapidly and forcefully, like a rocket.
In a Sentence: The car accelerated, speeding like a rocket.
11. Rapid as a shooting star.
Meaning: Very fast, comparable to the speed of a shooting star.
In a Sentence: The car shot across the sky, rapid as a shooting star.
12. Swift as an arrow.
Meaning: Moving with great speed and accuracy, like an arrow.
In a Sentence: The message spread through the internet, swift as an arrow.
13. Fast as a whirling dervish.
Meaning: Extremely fast and energetic, like the movements of a whirling dervish.
In a Sentence: The dancer twirled on stage, fast as a whirling dervish.
14. Quick as a thought.
Meaning: Happening with great speed, comparable to the speed of a thought.
In a Sentence: The idea struck her, quick as a thought.
15. Speedy as a hare.
Meaning: Very fast and agile, similar to the speed of a hare.
In a Sentence: The sprinter was as speedy as a hare on the track.
16. Like a bat out of hell.
Meaning: Extremely fast and with urgency.
In a Sentence: The car sped away from the scene like a bat out of hell.
17. Swift as a swallow.
Meaning: Moving with great speed and agility, resembling a swallow’s flight.
In a Sentence: The fighter jet soared through the sky, swift as a swallow.
18. Rapid as a race car.
Meaning: Moving at a high speed, like a race car.
In a Sentence: The skateboarder raced down the hill, rapid as a race car.
19. Fast as a thoroughbred.
Meaning: Extremely fast and agile, like a thoroughbred horse.
In a Sentence: The cyclist pedaled, fast as a thoroughbred.
20. Quick as a blink.
Meaning: Extremely fast, happening in the time it takes to blink.
In a Sentence: The decision was made, quick as a blink.
21. Speedy as a tornado.
Meaning: Moving with great speed and force, resembling a tornado.
In a Sentence: The news spread through the town, speedy as a tornado.
22. Fleet as a jet plane.
Meaning: Moving swiftly and efficiently, like a jet plane.
In a Sentence: The company expanded, fleet as a jet plane.
23. Brisk as a hare in motion.
Meaning: Moving quickly and energetically, like a hare in motion.
In a Sentence: The squirrel climbed the tree, brisk as a hare in motion.
24. Like a falcon in flight.
Meaning: Rapid and graceful, resembling a falcon in flight.
In a Sentence: The basketball player moved across the court, like a falcon in flight.
25. Rapid as a roller coaster.
Meaning: Moving at a high speed with sudden changes, like a roller coaster.
In a Sentence: The roller coaster descended, rapid as a roller coaster.
26. Swift as a zephyr.
Meaning: Moving with a gentle and swift breeze, like a zephyr.
In a Sentence: The leaves fluttered to the ground, swift as a zephyr.
27. Fast as a locomotive.
Meaning: Moving at a high speed, comparable to a locomotive.
In a Sentence: The train raced down the tracks, fast as a locomotive.
28. Quick as a heartbeat.
Meaning: Extremely fast, comparable to the speed of a heartbeat.
In a Sentence: The news struck her, quick as a heartbeat.
10 Quizzes About The Similes in The Article
Quiz 1: Matching Meanings
Match the simile with its correct meaning:
- Swift as a coursing river
- A. Moving with great speed and force, resembling a tornado.
- Fast as a speeding bullet
- B. Extremely fast, like the flow of a river.
- Quick as lightning
- C. Very fast and agile, similar to the speed of a hare.
- Speedy as a gazelle
- D. Moving swiftly and efficiently, like a jet plane.
- Rapid as a cheetah
- E. Extremely fast, happening in the blink of an eye.
Quiz 2: Fill in the Blank
Complete the sentences with the appropriate simile:
- The car _______________, fast as a speeding bullet.
- The computer processed the data, _______________ as a cheetah.
- The cyclist pedaled, _______________ as a thoroughbred.
- The leaves fluttered to the ground, _______________ as a zephyr.
- The skateboarder raced down the hill, _______________ as a race car.
Quiz 3: True or False
Determine if the following statements are true or false:
- “Swift as an arrow” means moving with great speed and accuracy.
- “Quick as a wink” describes a slow and deliberate action.
- “Speedy as a tornado” implies moving slowly and gently.
- “Fleet as a falcon” suggests moving swiftly, similar to the speed of a falcon.
- “Like a hare on the run” means moving slowly and cautiously.
Quiz 4: Sentence Matching
Match the simile with the correct example sentence:
- _______________ – The car shot across the sky, rapid as a shooting star.
- _______________ – The idea struck her, quick as a thought.
- _______________ – The roller coaster descended, rapid as a roller coaster.
- _______________ – The news spread through the town, speedy as a tornado.
- _______________ – The sprinter dashed across the track like a hare on the run.
Quiz 5: Identify the Simile
Choose the correct simile that matches the given description:
- Describes something moving with great speed and agility, resembling a swallow’s flight.
- Compares an action happening in the blink of an eye.
- Indicates something extremely fast and with urgency.
- Describes an object moving at a high speed with sudden changes, like a roller coaster.
- Compares something to the rapid and graceful movements of a falcon in flight.
Quiz 6: Synonym Match
Match each simile with a synonym that conveys a similar meaning:
- Fast as a locomotive
- A. Brisk as a hare in motion.
- Quick as a heartbeat
- B. Fleet as a falcon.
- Like a falcon in flight
- C. Quick as a thought.
- Speeding like a rocket
- D. Rapid as a roller coaster.
- Rapid as a shooting star
- E. Fast as a thoroughbred.
Quiz 7: Complete the Proverb
Complete the proverb using the appropriate simile:
- “Out of all the animals, the hare is known to be _______________.”
Quiz 8: Contextual Understanding
Choose the simile that best fits the context in the given sentence:
- The spaceship traversed the galaxy, _______________.
- The magician’s trick was over _______________.
- The new athlete on the track was as _______________ as a gazelle.
- The leaves fluttered to the ground, _______________.
- The company expanded, _______________.
Quiz 9: Word Association
Choose the word that is most closely associated with each simile:
- Like a bat out of hell
- A. Graceful
- Swift as a swallow
- B. Urgent
- Rapid as a race car
- C. Lively
- Quick as a wink
- D. Abrupt
Quiz 10: Sentence Creation
Create a sentence using one of the similes. Be sure to include context that fits the meaning of the simile.
- Use “Brisk as the wind” in a sentence.
Conclusion
Similes for speed offer a colorful and accessible way to convey the idea of rapid motion. From the swiftness of a coursing river to the rapidity of a shooting star, these comparisons make describing speed a breeze.
