- Do you ever feel unsure whether to say “make speed” or “gain speed”?
- Are you confused about when to use “at speed” versus “with speed” in your sentences?
- Do you struggle to use “speed” naturally in both noun and verb forms, making your English sound less fluent?
Mastering collocations isn’t just about memorizing words; it’s about understanding how words naturally fit together, enhancing your fluency and making your English sound authentic. For a dynamic word like ‘speed,’ knowing its common partners as both a noun and a verb is crucial for clear and confident communication.
Essential Collocations using Speed as a Noun
When ‘speed’ acts as a noun, it refers to the rate at which something moves or operates. Its collocations help describe, quantify, or qualify this rate.
Describing the Rate of Speed
These collocations typically use adjectives to convey how fast or slow something is.
- high speed: very fast.
Example: The train travels at high speed across the countryside.
- low speed: very slow.
Example: The car was moving at a relatively low speed due to the heavy traffic.
- full speed: the fastest possible rate.
Example: The athlete ran at full speed towards the finish line.
- top speed: the maximum speed something can achieve.
Example: What’s the top speed of this new sports car?
- breakneck speed: dangerously fast.
Example: The project was completed at breakneck speed, causing some stress for the team.
- lightning speed: extremely fast, like lightning.
Example: She typed the report with lightning speed.
- rapid speed: quick and swift.
Example: The company’s growth achieved rapid speed over the last quarter.
Actions Related to Speed
These collocations involve verbs that describe what you do with speed.
- pick up speed: to increase in speed.
Example: The car began to pick up speed as it merged onto the highway.
- gather speed: to increase in speed (similar to ‘pick up speed’).
Example: The roller coaster began to gather speed on the first descent.
- gain speed: to increase in speed or momentum.
Example: The runner could gain speed only after the first kilometer.
- lose speed: to decrease in speed.
Example: The cyclist started to lose speed as he rode uphill.
- reduce speed: to make something go slower.
Example: Drivers are advised to reduce speed in residential areas.
- control speed: to manage how fast something is going.
Example: It’s important to control your speed on icy roads.
- maintain speed: to keep a consistent speed.
Example: The pilot tried to maintain speed despite the strong headwinds.
- set the speed: to determine how fast something should go.
Example: The manager wanted to set the speed for the entire workflow.
Fixed Expressions and Compounds with Speed
These are common phrases or compound nouns that integrate ‘speed’.
- speed limit: the maximum legal speed on a road.
Example: Always obey the speed limit to ensure safety.
- speed bump: a raised area in a road to slow down traffic.
Example: Watch out for the speed bump ahead.
- speed camera: a device that detects and photographs speeding vehicles.
Example: There’s a new speed camera installed on the main road.
- at speed: moving quickly.
Example: The ambulance rushed through the city at speed.
- with speed: indicates the manner of quickness.
Example: The message was delivered with speed to the headquarters.
Common Collocations with Speed as a Verb
When ‘speed’ acts as a verb, it means to move quickly or to cause something to move quickly. It often takes a particle (e.g., up, down, past) to form phrasal verbs.
Increasing or Decreasing Speed
These collocations describe accelerating or decelerating an action or process.
- speed up: to go faster; to make something happen faster.
Example: We need to speed up the production process to meet the deadline.
- speed down: to go slower (less common than ‘slow down’).
Example: He had to speed down as he approached the sharp bend.
Movement and Progression
These collocations describe the direction or manner of moving quickly.
- speed along: to move quickly forward.
Example: The car was speeding along the deserted highway.
- speed past: to go quickly by something or someone.
Example: A police car suddenly sped past us with its sirens blaring.
- speed away / speed off: to leave quickly.
Example: After the argument, he got in his car and sped away.
- speed toward(s): to move quickly in the direction of something.
Example: The meteor was speeding towards the Earth’s atmosphere.
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| high speed | Noun (Adj + Noun) | Very fast rate |
| pick up speed | Noun (Verb + Noun) | Increase in speed |
| lose speed | Noun (Verb + Noun) | Decrease in speed |
| speed limit | Noun (Compound Noun) | Maximum legal speed |
| at speed | Noun (Prepositional Phrase) | Moving quickly |
| speed up | Verb (Phrasal Verb) | Go or make faster |
| speed along | Verb (Phrasal Verb) | Move quickly forward |
| speed past | Verb (Phrasal Verb) | Pass quickly |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Avoid direct translations from your native language. Instead, embrace how native English speakers naturally combine ‘speed’ with other words.
| Do Not Say | Say This (Native Usage) |
|---|---|
| make speed | gain speed, pick up speed |
| do speed | travel at speed, drive at speed, exceed the speed limit |
| quick speed | high speed, rapid speed |
| go speed | speed up, drive fast |
The new project leader, Sarah, arrived with a clear vision: she wanted to speed up the development cycle. Her team was used to a more relaxed pace, but Sarah was determined to set the speed. They started working at what felt like breakneck speed, barely pausing for lunch. Initial reports showed the project was beginning to gain speed, and they hoped to hit their milestones at lightning speed. Sarah always reminded them, “We need to maintain speed, but not at the expense of quality.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Speed Collocations
How do “at speed” and “with speed” differ in usage?
While both imply quickness, “at speed” typically refers to moving quickly, often indicating a continuous or sustained fast movement (e.g., “The car drove at speed”). “With speed” usually describes the manner in which an action is performed, emphasizing the swiftness of the action itself (e.g., “She completed the task with speed”).
Can “speed” be a verb in all contexts where movement is involved?
While “speed” can generally be used as a verb meaning “to move quickly,” it’s often more natural with specific adverbs or particles (e.g., “speed up,” “speed along,” “speed past”). For general rapid movement, other verbs like “rush,” “hurry,” or “accelerate” might be more appropriate depending on the nuance.
What is the difference between “speed up” and “hurry up”?
“Speed up” generally refers to increasing the rate or velocity of something, whether it’s a physical object, a process, or a person’s action. “Hurry up” is more specifically used to tell someone to act or move more quickly, often in an imperative sense, and usually applies to people.
Are “speed limit” and “speed bump” considered true collocations?
Yes, absolutely! “Speed limit” and “speed bump” are highly frequent and fixed combinations in English. They are excellent examples of compound nouns that function as single conceptual units, making them strong collocations.
How can I avoid common mistakes when using “speed” collocations?
The best way to avoid mistakes is to focus on exposure to native speaker usage through reading and listening. Pay attention to how ‘speed’ is used in different contexts. Instead of trying to translate directly from your first language, learn the common phrases as chunks. Practice using them in your own sentences and seek feedback from native speakers or advanced learners.
This blog is so helpful. I never knew 'at speed' was its own phrase without 'high' or 'low'!
I struggle with the verb 'to speed.' Is the past tense 'speeded' or 'sped'?
Both are actually correct, Carlos! However, 'sped' is more common for general movement ('The car sped away'), while 'speeded' is often used for the legal violation ('He was speeded'—though 'he was caught speeding' is better).
Is it natural to say 'The wind is at high speed today'?
Close, Akari! For wind, we usually use the collocation 'high wind speeds' (plural) or just say 'The wind is very strong.'
I often hear 'Godspeed' in movies. Is that related to these collocations?
Interesting point, Ivan! 'Godspeed' is an old expression used to wish someone a prosperous journey. It doesn't actually refer to physical speed, but rather 'success' (from the old English 'sped').
The difference between 'gain speed' and 'increase speed' is subtle. Is one more formal than the other?
Hi Mei-Ling! 'Increase speed' sounds a bit more technical or formal, while 'gain speed' is very common when describing something physically accelerating, like a ball rolling down a hill.
I enjoyed the section on 'at full speed.' It’s very helpful for describing athletes in my sports blog.
What is the opposite of 'speed up'? Is it 'speed down'?
Actually, Anja, the opposite of 'speed up' is 'slow down.' We don't say 'speed down' in English!
Can we use 'reduced speed' in a sentence? I see signs on the road that say 'Reduced Speed Ahead.'
Yes, Diego! 'Reduced speed' is a formal collocation often found in official signage or safety instructions to indicate you should slow down.
In French, we have different words for speed depending on the context. I find 'top speed' very useful for my engineering studies. Thanks for the examples!
Is there a difference between 'at speed' and 'at a high speed'? I see the first one in British news a lot.