speeding: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to formal in legal/transport contexts; informal in figurative use.
Quick answer
What does “speeding” mean?
The act or offense of driving a vehicle faster than the legally permitted limit.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act or offense of driving a vehicle faster than the legally permitted limit.
The act of moving or progressing at a very rapid pace; also used figuratively for any activity conducted with excessive haste.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The legal offense is identically named. In informal figurative use, 'speeding' may be slightly more common in AmE (e.g., 'speeding through a book').
Connotations
Strongly negative in legal/road safety context; can be neutral or slightly positive in figurative contexts (e.g., 'speeding towards a deadline').
Frequency
High frequency in both varieties due to common traffic discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “speeding” in a Sentence
[be] caught speeding[get] a ticket for speeding[be] charged with speeding[be] fined for speedingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “speeding” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was caught speeding on the M25.
- She has a history of speeding.
American English
- He got pulled over for speeding on I-95.
- She's been ticketed for speeding before.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable; 'speeding' is not used as a standard adverb.
American English
- Not applicable; 'speeding' is not used as a standard adverb.
adjective
British English
- The speeding driver was given a hefty fine.
- A speeding ticket arrived in the post.
American English
- The speeding motorist was issued a citation.
- He paid his speeding fine online.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Figuratively: 'The company was speeding towards its quarterly targets.'
Academic
In transport studies: 'The correlation between speeding and accident severity is well-documented.'
Everyday
Predominantly in the context of driving: 'He got three points on his licence for speeding.'
Technical
In legal/forensic contexts: 'The vehicle's telematics data confirmed the allegation of speeding.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “speeding”
- Using 'speed' as an uncountable noun for the offense (e.g., 'He was fined for speed' – incorrect). Confusing 'speeding' (illegal action) with simply 'going fast'. Using 'speeding' as an adjective for objects (e.g., 'a speeding car' is fine, but 'a speeding process' is marginal).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily yes, but it can be used figuratively for any process moving very quickly (e.g., 'speeding through a lecture').
'Speeding' specifically means exceeding the speed limit. 'Reckless driving' is a broader, more serious charge that can include speeding but also involves dangerous manoeuvres without regard for safety.
No, that is incorrect. The correct formulation is 'he was fined for speeding' (using the gerund/noun).
No. The verb is 'to speed'. 'Speeding' is the -ing form (gerund/participle) or the derived noun for the offense.
The act or offense of driving a vehicle faster than the legally permitted limit.
Speeding is usually neutral to formal in legal/transport contexts; informal in figurative use. in register.
Speeding: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspiːdɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspidɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Speeding is a one-way ticket to an accident.”
- “Life in the fast lane often leads to speeding tickets.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SPEEDING = SPEEd + ING (the action of). Think of a speeding ticket you don't want to be 'in'.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS MOTION / PROGRESS IS A JOURNEY. Speeding represents moving too quickly along this path, often with negative consequences (e.g., 'speeding towards disaster').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'speeding' used figuratively?