Standard Lemma guide

posthaste

adv · noun · 2 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌpəʊstˈheɪst/
  • US: /ˌpoʊstˈheɪst/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adv

Meaning 1

Quickly, as fast as someone travelling post; with great speed.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated, formal, not-comparable

Examples

  • It is imperative that you finish your task posthaste.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Alternative spelling of post-haste.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the former instruction on letters ‘haste, post, haste’, later reinterpreted as a compound of post + haste.