From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishswiftswift1 /swɪft/ ●○○ adjective 1 FAST/QUICKhappening or done quickly and immediately My letter received a swift reply. She shot a swift glance at Paul.swift to do something They were swift to deny the accusations.2 [only before noun]FAST/QUICK moving, or able to move, very fast a swift runner She wiped her tears away in one swift movement.► see thesaurus at fast3 → somebody is not too swift —swiftly adverb Alice dressed swiftly. —swiftness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
swift• Their victory was swift and decisive.• Punishment of the protesters was swift and severe.• We had to steer our ship through the swift currents of the Bering Straits.• With the hood open he made a swift examination of the engine.• Swift fashion changes mean that the shop has to change its stock every six to eight weeks.• While, at a superficial level, the titles might well mislead, a swift glance at the contents is reassuring.• With two swift motions she pinned him.• But only the swiftest of action will save a woman who's already lost her husband from losing her home as well.• His swift progress made a life in music almost inevitable.• They slew the gentle musician, tearing him limb from limb, and flung the severed head into the swift river Hebrus.• The drop was so swift that the engine stalled briefly, then coughed into action.• The horses ran along the track at a swift trot.swift to do something• They are a wild, free-spirited people, quick-tempered as Elves go, and swift to avenge any stain on their honour.• She loved her lessons, always asking questions, swift to learn, greedy for more information.• A basic condition of joining is the willingness to be arrested, and the authorities have been swift to oblige.swiftswift2 noun [countable] HBBa small brown bird that has pointed wings, flies very fast, and is similar to a swallowExamples from the Corpus
swift• These animals are unrivalled for their grace and swiftness.• The church tower was altered in the 1950s and swifts can no longer get in.• One other small bird which might be considered is the black swift.• Each year it is the same and it starts when the black swifts begin to flock and sweep over the Zoo.• A raven flaps aimlessly across the scene, and white-throated swifts swoop past in violent arcs.• Above me were swifts scything their blue and white fields.From Longman Business DictionarySWIFTSWIFT /swɪft/ nounBANKINGTELECOMMUNICATIONS Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications; an electronic system that allows banks all over the world to send information and payments to each otherOrigin swift1 Old English 