astonishingly fast

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "astonishingly fast" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that occurs at an unexpectedly high speed or rate. Example: "The new internet connection is astonishingly fast, allowing users to download large files in seconds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

The level rose astonishingly fast.

The New York Times

And a human body falls astonishingly fast.

The New York Times - Travel

Google's Nexus One is an astonishingly fast phone.

MIT Technology Review

Fuelled by determination, Hand in Hand for Syria grew astonishingly fast.

The Guardian

José Fernandez and Melody Celatti have particularly fine aerial steps, feet flicking from a raised knee, intricate and astonishingly fast.

Independent

Astonishingly fast Trump foreign policy reversals on NATO, Russia, China, Syria, all for the good in my view.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

Even people with modest apartments, though, will appreciate the Logitech's astonishingly smart and fast free-spinning scroll wheel.

The New Yorker

All right then: the Surface Pro is fast, flexible and astonishingly compact for what it does; that much is unassailable.

The New York Times - Tech

Its breathless publicity material conveys the flavour: "All you really need to win is this: Extremely fast implementation of astonishingly innovative systems built on breakthrough strategies supported by an infrastructure designed for extensibility and iteration.

The Economist

Astonishingly, he finds that the reaction occurs fastest in the first tube.

The Guardian

Then there is Novalee's friend Lexie Coop Ashley Juddd), steadfast mother of five by various liaisons, to help stir fast-erupting crises into an "astonishingly shameless melodrama" (Mitchell).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "astonishingly fast" to emphasize a surprising or unexpected level of speed or progress. For example, "The company's growth was astonishingly fast after the new product launch."

Common error

While "astonishingly fast" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or scientific writing. Opt for more precise or technical terms when describing specific speeds or rates.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "astonishingly fast" functions as an intensifying adverbial modifier describing the adjective 'fast'. It amplifies the degree of speed, emphasizing that something is happening at an unexpectedly high rate. As shown in Ludwig, it highlights the surprising nature of the speed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

20%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "astonishingly fast" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that combines an adverb of intensity with an adjective of speed. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It conveys a sense of surprise or admiration regarding the speed or rate at which something happens. While versatile, it is most commonly found in news and media contexts, with notable presence in scientific and academic writing as well. To maintain nuance and precision, alternatives like "remarkably quick" or "incredibly rapid" can be considered depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

remarkably quick

Emphasizes speed with a slightly more formal tone.

incredibly rapid

Highlights the high rate or speed of something.

exceptionally swift

Implies a higher degree of speed than usual.

surprisingly speedy

Indicates an unexpected level of quickness.

blindingly fast

Suggests an extreme level of speed, almost overwhelming.

lightning fast

Compares the speed to that of lightning.

with great rapidity

A more formal and descriptive way to express high speed.

at breakneck speed

Implies a dangerously high speed.

at warp speed

A science-fiction reference implying extremely high velocity.

at full tilt

Suggests operating at maximum speed or capacity.

FAQs

How can I use "astonishingly fast" in a sentence?

You can use "astonishingly fast" to describe something that happens with unexpected speed. For example, "The software update installed "astonishingly fast"".

What are some alternatives to "astonishingly fast"?

Alternatives include "remarkably quick", "incredibly rapid", or "exceptionally swift", depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "astonishingly fast" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, consider more precise language in highly formal contexts. Terms like "remarkably quick" or specific measurements of speed may be more suitable.

What does "astonishingly fast" emphasize in a description?

It emphasizes that the speed is surprising or unexpected, adding a sense of wonder or disbelief to the description. It highlights how something occurs in a "surprisingly speedy" manner.