speedily

Speedily is an adverb meaning to act with speed or without delay. It describes performing an action in a quick, prompt, or rapid manner. In everyday use, it is more formal or literary than the simpler adverb quickly, and it is often chosen to emphasize urgency or efficiency.

Etymology and form: speedily derives from the noun speed, via the adjective speedy. The adverb is formed by adding the suffix -ly to speedily or the adjective speedy, producing a sense of swift action or promptness. The related noun speed refers to the rate of motion or progress.

Usage considerations: Speedily tends to appear in formal, ceremonial, legal, or historical writing, as well as in journalism that seeks a measured tone about urgent events. In casual conversation, speakers typically opt for quickly or rapidly. The phrase as quickly as possible is often preferred when the emphasis is on achieving speed in a practical sense.

Examples:

- The ambulance responders arrived speedily and provided first aid at once.

- The project was completed speedily, meeting the deadline ahead of schedule.

See also: quickly, rapidly, promptly, speed, speediness.