sped: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal (for the noun referring to a person), Neutral/Formal (for verb forms)
Quick answer
What does “sped” mean?
The simple past tense and past participle of the verb 'speed', meaning to move quickly or to proceed at a rapid rate.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The simple past tense and past participle of the verb 'speed', meaning to move quickly or to proceed at a rapid rate.
Historically used to mean 'accelerated' or 'hastened', but in contemporary informal usage, it can be a derogatory term for a special education student.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The verb form 'sped' is standard in both. The derogatory noun usage is more widely attested in American school/teen slang, though it may be understood in the UK due to cultural exchange.
Connotations
The verb is neutral. The noun is highly derogatory and pejorative.
Frequency
The verb form is common. The noun usage is relatively low-frequency outside specific, often negative, social contexts among younger speakers.
Grammar
How to Use “sped” in a Sentence
Subject + sped + (Adverbial) [Intransitive]Subject + sped + Direct Object + (Adverbial) [Transitive, archaic/formal]Subject + sped + Prepositional PhraseVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sped” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The lorry sped along the motorway.
- Time sped by as we chatted.
- He sped off before I could get his number.
American English
- The car sped past the stop sign.
- She sped through her homework to watch the game.
- The bullet train sped toward the city.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; 'speedily' is used.)
American English
- (Not standard; 'speedily' is used.)
adjective
British English
- The sped process caused some errors. (rare/formal)
- He took a sped-up version of the course.
American English
- They implemented a sped-up timeline. (as in 'sped-up')
- The film was a sped rendition of the original. (rare/archaic)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might appear in narratives: 'The project sped towards completion after the new manager arrived.'
Academic
Standard for verb form in historical or descriptive texts.
Everyday
Common for describing fast movement. The noun form is strictly informal/slang.
Technical
Used in physics or engineering contexts to describe accelerated motion.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sped”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sped”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sped”
- Using 'speeded' vs. 'sped' (both are correct for the past tense, but 'sped' is more common for rapid motion, 'speeded' for 'increased speed' or legal contexts).
- Using the noun form in formal writing.
- Misspelling as 'spedd'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct. 'Sped' is typically used for literal rapid motion. 'Speeded' is often used in phrasal verbs ('speed up') or in legal/process contexts ('the process was speeded up').
Yes, but only in very informal, derogatory slang (short for 'special ed' student). This usage is offensive and should be avoided in careful speech and all writing.
No, the standard IPA /spɛd/ is the same for both major variants. The vowel is the short 'e' as in 'bed'.
'Sped up' is a very common phrasal verb meaning 'accelerated' or 'increased in speed', e.g., 'The video was sped up to save time.'
The simple past tense and past participle of the verb 'speed', meaning to move quickly or to proceed at a rapid rate.
Sped is usually informal (for the noun referring to a person), neutral/formal (for verb forms) in register.
Sped: in British English it is pronounced /spɛd/, and in American English it is pronounced /spɛd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sped off into the sunset”
- “sped to the conclusion”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"SPED = Simple Past of SPEED. He SPED in his car until he was stopped."
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS MOTION / PROGRESS IS MOVEMENT ALONG A PATH (e.g., 'sped through the book').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'sped' considered derogatory and offensive?