Slow vs. Swift — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Slow and Swift

Definitions

Slow

Not moving or able to move quickly; proceeding at a low speed

A slow train.

Slow walkers.

Swift

Moving or capable of moving with great speed; fast.

Slow

Marked by a retarded tempo

A slow waltz.

Swift

Fast; quick; rapid.

Slow

Taking or requiring a long time

The slow job of making bread.

Swift

Capable of moving at high speeds.

Slow

Taking more time than is usual

A slow worker.

Slow progress in the peace negotiations.

Swift

A small plain-colored bird of the family Apodidae that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight.

Slow

Allowing movement or action only at a low speed

A slow track.

A slow infield.

Swift

Any of certain lizards of the genus Sceloporus.

Slow

Registering a time or rate behind or below the correct one

A slow clock.

Swift

(entomology) A moth of the family Hepialidae, swift moth, ghost moth.

Slow

Lacking in promptness or willingness; not precipitate

They were slow to accept our invitation.

Swift

(entomology) Any of various fast-flying hesperiid butterflies.

Slow

Characterized by a low volume of sales or transactions

Business was slow today.

Swift

(textiles) A light, collapsible reel used to hold a hank of yarn in order to wind off skeins or balls.

Slow

Lacking liveliness or interest; boring

A slow party.

Swift

The main cylinder of a carding-machine.

Slow

Not having or exhibiting intellectual or mental quickness

A slow learner.

Swift

(obsolete) The current of a stream.

Slow

Only moderately warm; low

A slow oven.

Swift

Swiftly.

Slow

So as to fall behind the correct time or rate

The watch runs slow.

Swift

Moving a great distance in a short time; moving with celerity or velocity; fleet; rapid; quick; speedy; prompt.

My beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

Swift of dispatch and easy of access.

And bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Slow

At a low speed

Go slow!.

Swift

Of short continuance; passing away quickly.

Slow

To make slow or slower.

Swift

Swiftly.

Ply swift and strong the oar.

Slow

To delay; retard.

Swift

The current of a stream.

Slow

To become slow or slower.

Swift

Any one of numerous species of small, long-winged, insectivorous birds of the family Micropodidæ. In form and habits the swifts resemble swallows, but they are destitute of complex vocal muscles and are not singing birds, but belong to a widely different group allied to the humming birds.

Slow

Taking a long time to move or go a short distance, or to perform an action; not quick in motion; proceeding at a low speed.

A slow train;

A slow computer

Swift

Any one of several species of lizards, as the pine lizard.

Slow

Not happening in a short time; spread over a comparatively long time.

Swift

The ghost moth. See under Ghost.

Slow

Of reduced intellectual capacity; not quick to comprehend.

Swift

A reel, or turning instrument, for winding yarn, thread, etc.; - used chiefly in the plural.

Slow

Not hasty; not tending to hurry; acting with deliberation or caution.

Swift

The main card cylinder of a flax-carding machine.

Slow

(of a clock or the like) Behind in time; indicating a time earlier than the true time.

That clock is slow.

Swift

United States meat-packer who began the use of refrigerated railroad cars (1839-1903)

Slow

Lacking spirit; deficient in liveliness or briskness.

Swift

An English satirist born in Ireland (1667-1745)

Slow

(of a period of time) Not busy; lacking activity.

It was a slow news day, so the editor asked us to make our articles wordier.

I'm just sitting here with a desk of cards, enjoying a slow afternoon.

Swift

Small plain-colored bird that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight

Slow

(transitive) To make (something) run, move, etc. less quickly; to reduce the speed of.

Slow the process

Swift

Common western lizard; seen on logs or rocks

Slow

(transitive) To keep from going quickly; to hinder the progress of.

Slow the traffic

Swift

Moving very fast;

Fleet of foot

The fleet scurrying of squirrels

A swift current

Swift flight of an arrow

A swift runner

Slow

(intransitive) To become slow; to slacken in speed; to decelerate.

Slow

Someone who is slow; a sluggard.

Slow

(music) A slow song.

Slow

Slowly.

That clock is running slow.

I want to dance with you nice and slow

Slow

Slew.

Slow

Moving a short space in a relatively long time; not swift; not quick in motion; not rapid; moderate; deliberate; as, a slow stream; a slow motion.

Slow

Not happening in a short time; gradual; late.

These changes in the heavens, though slow, producedLike change on sea and land, sidereal blast.

Slow

Not ready; not prompt or quick; dilatory; sluggish; as, slow of speech, and slow of tongue.

Fixed on defense, the Trojans are not slowTo guard their shore from an expected foe.

Slow

Not hasty; not precipitate; acting with deliberation; tardy; inactive.

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding.

Slow

Behind in time; indicating a time earlier than the true time; as, the clock or watch is slow.

Slow

Not advancing or improving rapidly; as, the slow growth of arts and sciences.

Slow

Heavy in wit; not alert, prompt, or spirited; wearisome; dull.

Slow

Slowly.

Let him have time to mark how slow time goesIn time of sorrow.

Slow

To render slow; to slacken the speed of; to retard; to delay; as, to slow a steamer.

Slow

To go slower; - often with up; as, the train slowed up before crossing the bridge.

Slow

A moth.

Slow

Lose velocity; move more slowly;

The car decelerated

Slow

Become slow or slower;

Production slowed

Slow

Cause to proceed more slowly;

The illness slowed him down

Slow

Not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time;

A slow walker

The slow lane of traffic

Her steps were slow

He was slow in reacting to the news

Slow but steady growth

Slow

At a slow tempo;

The band played a slow waltz

Slow

Slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity;

So dense he never understands anything I say to him

Never met anyone quite so dim

Although dull at classical learning, at mathematics he was uncommonly quick

Dumb officials make some really dumb decisions

He was either normally stupid or being deliberately obtuse

Worked with the slow students

Slow

(used of timepieces) indicating a time earlier than the correct time;

The clock is slow

Slow

So lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness;

A boring evening with uninteresting people

The deadening effect of some routine tasks

A dull play

His competent but dull performance

A ho-hum speaker who couldn't capture their attention

What an irksome task the writing of long letters is

Tedious days on the train

The tiresome chirping of a cricket

Other people's dreams are dreadfully wearisome

Slow

(of business) not active or brisk;

Business is dull (or slow)

A sluggish market

Slow

Without speed (`slow' is sometimes used informally for `slowly');

He spoke slowly

Go easy here--the road is slippery

Glaciers move tardily

Please go slow so I can see the sights

Slow

Of timepieces;

The clock is almost an hour slow

My watch is running behind

Expository vs. Expositional

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