When we want to describe how fast something is, we often use similes for speed. A simile compares two things using the word “as” or “like” to make the description more vivid and understandable. For example, “She ran as fast as a cheetah” helps you imagine her speed, as the cheetah is one of the fastest animals on earth. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best similes for speed to help you elevate your writing with vivid imagery and creative comparisons.
What Are Similes?
A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things in a creative way. It helps to give us a clear picture of the subject by using something familiar to help us understand something less familiar. For instance, comparing someone’s speed to that of a cheetah allows us to quickly grasp the concept of how fast they are.
Why Use Similes for Speed in Writing?
Using similes for speed can:
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Enhance storytelling: They make writing more colorful and engaging.
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Clarify concepts: They help readers understand ideas more easily by connecting them to things they already know.
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Add emotion: By making comparisons, similes can evoke specific feelings in the reader.
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Show creativity: Using fresh similes for speed can make your writing stand out.
In this article, we’ll focus on similes for speed, one of the most common and effective uses of similes in everyday language. Whether you’re writing creatively or simply looking to add flair to your content, these comparisons will make your descriptions of speed far more compelling.
1. Fast as Lightning
Meaning: Extremely rapid or quick.
In a Sentence: The cat darted across the room as fast as lightning when it heard the sound of the can opener.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as lightning
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Swift as lightning
Lightning is one of the quickest natural phenomena, and using this simile instantly conveys an image of something moving at lightning speed.
2. Fast as a Race Car
Meaning: Moving at a high speed, like a racing vehicle.
In a Sentence: The roller coaster zipped down the track as fast as a race car, thrilling all the riders.
Other Ways to Say:
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Speeding like a race car
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Rapid as a race car
Race cars are built to move at incredibly high speeds, making them an ideal comparison for anything that moves fast.
3. Fast as a Rocket
Meaning: Moving swiftly, like a rocket soaring into space.
In a Sentence: When the teacher announced a pizza party, the students lined up as fast as rockets to get their slices.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a rocket
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Rapid as a rocket
Rockets are synonymous with speed, and this simile brings to mind the image of something traveling through the sky with incredible force.
4. Fast as a Cheetah
Meaning: Moving with incredible speed, like the fastest land animal.
In a Sentence: Jack finished his homework as fast as a cheetah so he could go out and play with his friends.
Other Ways to Say:
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Speedy as a cheetah
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Quick as a cheetah
Cheetahs are known for their remarkable ability to sprint, making them a go-to reference for speed in the animal kingdom.
5. Fast as the Wind
Meaning: Moving swiftly, like the air in a strong breeze.
In a Sentence: Sarah rode her bike down the hill as fast as the wind, her hair flying behind her.
Other Ways to Say:
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Speedy as the wind
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Swift as the wind
The wind can change direction quickly and blow at tremendous speeds, making it an ideal metaphor for fast movement.
6. Fast as a Bullet
Meaning: Moving very quickly, like a projectile shot from a firearm.
In a Sentence: The soccer ball flew past the goalie’s hands as fast as a bullet, scoring a goal for the home team.
Other Ways to Say:
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Rapid as a bullet
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Quick as a bullet
Bullets are known for their speed and precision, making this simile an effective way to describe rapid motion.
7. Fast as a Rabbit
Meaning: Moving swiftly, like the hopping of a rabbit.
In a Sentence: After hearing thunder, the children ran indoors as fast as rabbits to avoid the rain.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a rabbit
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Speedy as a rabbit
Rabbits are known for their quick movements when they need to escape danger, making them a relatable comparison for speed.
8. Fast as the Blink of an Eye
Meaning: Happening or moving extremely quickly, almost imperceptibly.
In a Sentence: The magician pulled a coin from behind the boy’s ear as fast as the blink of an eye, leaving him astonished.
Other Ways to Say:
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Swift as a blink of an eye
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Rapid as a blink of an eye
This simile emphasizes the idea of something happening so quickly that it’s almost impossible to see.
9. Fast as Greased Lightning
Meaning: Moving with incredible speed, as if slicked with grease to reduce friction.
In a Sentence: Jimmy finished his chores as fast as greased lightning so he could go out and play with his friends.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as greased lightning
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Swift as greased lightning
The idea of “greased lightning” comes from the concept of reducing friction to make something move faster.
10. Fast as a Whirlwind
Meaning: Moving swiftly, like the swirling winds of a whirlwind.
In a Sentence: The news spread through the school as fast as a whirlwind, reaching every student by the end of the day.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a whirlwind
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Rapid as a whirlwind
Whirlwinds are unpredictable and fast, making them a great comparison for something that moves with speed and intensity.
11. Fast as a Shooting Star
Meaning: Moving with incredible speed, like a meteor streaking across the night sky.
In a Sentence: When the bell rang for recess, the kids dashed out of the classroom as fast as shooting stars.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a shooting star
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Speedy as a shooting star
Shooting stars are often fleeting and appear suddenly, making them a perfect metaphor for something that moves quickly.
12. Fast as a Gust of Wind
Meaning: Moving swiftly, like a sudden burst of wind.
In a Sentence: The leaves scattered across the yard as fast as a gust of wind swept through.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a gust of wind
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Swift as a gust of wind
A gust of wind is sudden and powerful, making this simile a great addition when using similes for speed to describe something moving rapidly and unexpectedly.
13. Fast as a Stream
Meaning: Moving swiftly, like the flowing water in a stream.
In a Sentence: The toy boat sailed downstream as fast as a stream, carried along by the current.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a stream
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Swift as a stream
Streams often flow with rapid currents, providing an ideal metaphor for similes for speed that convey smooth, continuous movement.
14. Fast as a Train
Meaning: Moving at a high speed, like a locomotive on its tracks.
In a Sentence: The skateboarder zoomed down the hill as fast as a train, thrilling everyone watching.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a train
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Rapid as a train
Trains are known for their ability to travel great distances quickly, making them an essential simile for speed in describing high-speed motion.
15. Fast as a Hummingbird
Meaning: Moving with incredible speed, like the rapid fluttering of a hummingbird’s wings.
In a Sentence: The boy finished his homework as fast as a hummingbird, eager to go outside and play.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a hummingbird
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Swift as a hummingbird
Hummingbirds are known for their ability to hover and move swiftly, making them a perfect simile for speed to describe rapid, delicate motion.
16. Fast as a Jackrabbit
Meaning: Moving swiftly, like the hopping of a jackrabbit.
In a Sentence: Sarah dashed across the field as fast as a jackrabbit, trying to catch up with her friends.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a jackrabbit
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Speedy as a jackrabbit
Jackrabbits are known for their ability to hop quickly when fleeing, making them an ideal choice for similes for speed.
17. Fast as a Falling Star
Meaning: Moving with incredible speed, like a meteor plummeting through the atmosphere.
In a Sentence: The soccer ball soared past the goalie’s outstretched hand as fast as a falling star, scoring a goal for the team.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a falling star
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Swift as a falling star
Falling stars move rapidly and briefly, providing a perfect metaphor for something fleeting and quick.
18. Fast as a Streak of Light
Meaning: Moving swiftly, like a beam of light streaking through the darkness.
In a Sentence: The car sped down the highway as fast as a streak of light, reaching its destination in record time.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a streak of light
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Rapid as a streak of light
Light travels at a speed faster than anything else, making it an excellent simile for speed in any context.
19. Fast as a Jet Plane
Meaning: Moving swiftly, like an airplane flying through the sky.
In a Sentence: The basketball sailed through the hoop as fast as a jet plane, scoring the winning point for the team.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a jet plane
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Speedy as a jet plane
Jet planes represent the epitome of speed, making them a prominent choice for similes for speed.
20. Fast as a Bolt of Lightning
Meaning: Moving extremely swiftly, akin to the sudden flash of lightning.
In a Sentence: The car sped past us as fast as a bolt of lightning, disappearing around the bend in an instant.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a bolt of lightning
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Swift as a bolt of lightning
Lightning is often used as the quintessential simile for speed to convey something that is almost instantaneous.
21. Fast as a Startled Deer
Meaning: Moving swiftly, like a deer bounding away in surprise.
In a Sentence: When the alarm went off, the students fled from the classroom as fast as startled deer, eager to start their break.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a startled deer
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Rapid as a startled deer
Deer are known to quickly flee at the slightest sign of danger, making them a perfect simile for speed.
22. Fast as a Roller Coaster
Meaning: Moving at high speed, like a thrill ride at an amusement park.
In a Sentence: The children raced down the hill as fast as a roller coaster, laughing and screaming with excitement.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a roller coaster
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Rapid as a roller coaster
Roller coasters provide an exhilarating, fast experience, making them ideal similes for speed.
23. Fast as a Galloping Horse
Meaning: Moving swiftly, like a horse running at full speed.
In a Sentence: The skateboarder raced down the street as fast as a galloping horse, weaving between pedestrians with ease.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a galloping horse
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Rapid as a galloping horse
Horses, especially at full gallop, represent both grace and speed, making them a natural simile for speed.
24. Fast as a Wildfire
Meaning: Moving swiftly and uncontrollably, like the spread of a wildfire.
In a Sentence: The rumor spread through the school as fast as a wildfire, causing panic among the students.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a wildfire
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Swift as a wildfire
Wildfires spread rapidly, making them a fitting simile for speed when something is moving quickly and uncontrollably.
25. Fast as a Sprinter
Meaning: Moving with incredible speed, like an athlete racing in a sprint.
In a Sentence: The dog chased after the tennis ball as fast as a sprinter, determined to catch it before it hit the ground.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a sprinter
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Swift as a sprinter
Sprinters are known for their explosive acceleration and speed, making them a classic simile for speed.
26. Fast as a Tsunami
Meaning: Moving with incredible speed, like the surging force of a tsunami wave.
In a Sentence: The news of the canceled field trip spread through the class as fast as a tsunami, leaving everyone disappointed.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a tsunami
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Swift as a tsunami
Tsunamis are fast and powerful, making them a great comparison when describing swift, overwhelming motion.
27. Fast as a Jet Ski
Meaning: Moving swiftly, like a personal watercraft skimming across the water.
In a Sentence: The kids zoomed across the lake as fast as a jet ski, laughing as the waves splashed behind them.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a jet ski
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Rapid as a jet ski
Jet skis glide quickly over water, making them an ideal simile for speed on the water.
28. Fast as a Speeding Bullet
Meaning: Moving at an incredibly rapid pace, resembling the velocity of a bullet in flight.
In a Sentence: The car zoomed down the highway as fast as a speeding bullet, leaving behind a trail of dust.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a speeding bullet
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Rapid as a speeding bullet
A bullet is often the standard for similes for speed, symbolizing immense velocity.
29. Fast as a Freight Train
Meaning: Moving with great speed and power, like a heavy freight train.
In a Sentence: The athlete surged toward the finish line as fast as a freight train, leaving everyone behind.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a freight train
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Rapid as a freight train
Freight trains can be massive but also move with great force, making them a great simile for speed.
30. Fast as a Helicopter
Meaning: Moving swiftly, like a helicopter soaring through the air.
In a Sentence: The rescue team reached the accident site as fast as a helicopter, ready to help the victims.
Other Ways to Say:
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Quick as a helicopter
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Swift as a helicopter
Helicopters are used for fast, precise transport, making them an ideal simile for speed in emergency contexts.
Exercise to Practice
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate simile for speed from the list of 33 creative comparisons:
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She ran ___________ to catch the school bus.
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The car zoomed down the highway ___________.
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The soccer player kicked the ball ___________ towards the goal.
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The teacher graded the papers ___________ to finish before the bell rang.
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The roller coaster rushed down the track ___________, thrilling the riders.
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The mailman delivered the packages ___________ so he could finish his route on time.
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The baseball player dashed from base to base ___________, trying to steal home.
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The sprinter dashed across the finish line ___________ to win the race.
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The student completed the math test ___________ to have extra time for recess.
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The airplane soared through the clouds ___________ to reach its destination on schedule.
Answers:
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Fast as a rabbit
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Fast as a race car
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Fast as a rocket
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Fast as lightning
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Fast as a roller coaster
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Fast as greased lightning
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Fast as a cheetah
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Fast as a bullet
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Fast as a streak of light
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Fast as a jet plane
Conclusion
Similes for speed are not just creative comparisons; they are essential for making your writing more dynamic and vivid. By using comparisons like “as fast as a cheetah” or “as fast as lightning,” you can clearly convey the concept of speed in ways that are relatable and engaging to your audience. Whether you’re crafting a story, describing an event, or even explaining a scientific concept, these similes for speed allow you to communicate quickly and effectively, making your content more interesting.
So, next time you want to describe something moving swiftly, make sure to use one of these similes for speed. They’ll help bring your writing to life and engage your readers with colorful, impactful comparisons.
