Phrase guide

fast track

adj · noun · verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of something moving along a quicker or more direct route to success or completion (e.g. a course or surgery).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A racetrack with optimum conditions for high speeds

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: rail-transport, railways, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A railroad for express trains.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: rail-transport, railways, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The quickest or most direct method or path.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Google welcomes the decision to not approve the fast track of Microsoft's OOXML.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

The quickest or most direct method or path.

An accelerated course designed to help individuals earn a certification, degree, or credential in significantly less time than traditional pathways.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly

Qualifier: academics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A high-pressure or intensely competitive situation, particularly one characterised by rapid advancement.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

verb

Meaning 7

To progress something with unusual rapidity.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The head of Sydney Airport thinks frequent flyers should be fast-tracked through security checks.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

noun

Meaning 8

a rapid means of achieving a goal

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • they saw independence as the fast track to democracy
  • he took a fast track to the top of the corporate ladder
  • the company went off the fast track when the stock market dropped

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: means, agency, way

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Hungarian: gyorsítósáv — The quickest or most direct method or path
  • Hungarian: királyi út — The quickest or most direct method or path
  • Romanian: cale rapidă — The quickest or most direct method or path
  • Spanish: vía rápida — The quickest or most direct method or path
  • Spanish: de vía rápida — The quickest or most direct method or path
  • Māori: tīpoka — to progress something through a system bypassing usual holdups
  • Spanish: agilizar — to progress something through a system bypassing usual holdups
  • Spanish: acelerar — to progress something through a system bypassing usual holdups
  • Spanish: apurar — to progress something through a system bypassing usual holdups
  • Spanish: por la vía rápida — to progress something through a system bypassing usual holdups