Revised 2021
zippilyadverb
Factsheet
What does the adverb zippily mean?
There is one meaning in OED's entry for the adverb zippily. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.
Where does the adverb zippily come from?
Earliest known use
1920s
The earliest known use of the adverb zippily is in the 1920s.
OED's earliest evidence for zippily is from 1924, in Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Republican.
Nearby entries
- zipped, adj.1931–
- zippeite, n.1850–
- zipper, n.1923–
- zipper, v.1927–
- zippered, adj.1926–
- zipper foot, n.1938–
- zipperhead, n.1967–
- zipper problem, n.1985–
- Zippie, n.¹1968–
- zippie, n.²1986–
- zippily, adv.1924–
- zippiness, n.1907–
- zipping, n.1868–
- Zippo, n.¹1944–
- zippo, n.²1973–
- zippy, adj.1889–
- zip tie, n.1969–
- zip-tie, v.1985–
- zip top, n.1926–
- zip-up, adj. & n.1927–
- zip wire, n.1971–
Meaning & use
colloquial (originally U.S.).
- 1924–In a zippy manner; quickly, with great energy or liveliness.Stressed as ˈzippily.
- 1924
The action moves zippily, amusingly, with good tempo.
Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Republican 3 October (Final edition) 14/2 - 1983
The piece is zippily staged..and sung with immense liveliness.
Times 10 June 17/6 - 2010
The language..is zippily vivid, demonically comic, a whirling, garish fairground of verbal inventiveness.
Daily Telegraph 21 May 36/1
- cofeOld English–1340Quickly, sharply, eagerly, promptly; soon.
- snellyOld English–In a snell manner; quickly, smartly, severely, etc.
- swiftlyOld English–With great speed or velocity; at a great rate; = quickly, adv. 2c.
- whatlicheOld English–1250Quickly.
- yerneOld English–1530Quickly, swiftly, rapidly, fast, briskly, at a great rate.
- yeverlyOld English–1540a. Greedily; b. quickly, promptly.
- skeetc1175–1500Quickly, hastily, immediately.
- whatec1175–1400Quickly.
- lightly?c1225–With easy movement, nimbly, effortlessly, gracefully. †In early use: quickly, swiftly; immediately, at once (obsolete).
- tidelyc1225–1600Quickly, speedily; soon. Cf. titely, adv.
- fastlyc1275–At a fast speed; quickly, rapidly. Formerly also: †readily (obsolete). Cf. fast, adv. A.II.7a, A.II.8.
- swithc1275–At a rapid rate, very quickly, swiftly, rapidly. Now archaic or dialect.
- fastc1300–With great speed; quickly, rapidly, swiftly. Describing the rate of progress of a movement, action, or process, or indicating that an action or…
- quickc1300–Rapidly, at a fast rate; (also) without delay, at once; = quickly, adv. 2. See also get-rich-quick, adj., kiss-me-quick, n., PDQ, adv.
- titec1300–Quickly, soon; (also) straightaway, immediately; without delay or intermission.
- quicklya1325–Rapidly; with haste or speed. Describing the rate of progress of a movement, action, or process, without consideration of the time at which it begins…
- rada1325–Quickly, readily, soon. Cf. rathe, adv. Now Scottish (north-eastern).
- snellc1330–Quickly, promptly, swiftly.
- titelyc1330–1540Quickly; soon; (also) immediately; straightaway. Cf. tite, adv.
- swithly?1370–1600= swith, adv. 3, 4.
- hastlya1375–1778Speedily, quickly; (also) shortly; suddenly; = hastily, adv. 1.
- ketlya1375Quickly, hastily.
- ketec1380Boldly, bravely; quickly.
- speedlyc1380–1619= speedily, adv.
- speedfully1398–a. Speedily, quickly. b. Effectively.
- keenlya1400–00Sharply, quickly, in haste. Obsolete.
- skeetlya1400–50
- speedilya1400–In a speedy manner; with speed or celerity; quickly.
- swiftc1400–= swiftly, adv. 1.
- yederlyc1400Quickly.
- apacea1423–literal. At a pace, i.e. at a considerable or good pace; hence, With speed; swiftly, quickly, fast. Of speed or progress in any action.
- rasha1475–= rashly, adv. (in various senses). Now rare.
- runninglyc1475–In a rapid or hasty manner; swiftly, quickly; cursorily, superficially.
- speedful?c1480–Quasi-adv. Speedily, quickly.
- rackly?a1500Rapidly, impetuously.
- rashly1533–Quickly, rapidly, hurriedly. Now rare (chiefly English regional in later use).
- stiffly1535In a stiff manner; so as to be stiff; (in various senses of the adjective).
- roundly1548–Rapidly, briskly, promptly. Now archaic and rare (in later use chiefly Nautical).
- post1549–With verbs of motion (originally and chiefly to ride): with post-horses, by means of the post, express; (hence) with speed or haste. Also figurative…
- fleet1587–Quasi-adv. Quickly, swiftly. poetic.
- fleetly1598–Swiftly, quickly; also in combinations, as fleetly-mounted.
- speedy1601–Quasi-adv. Speedily.
- raptly1646Quickly. Obsolete.
- fastisha1650–Somewhat or moderately quickly or rapidly; with some speed; with little delay or hesitation.
- wingedly1651–
- rapidly1653–In a rapid manner, with rapidity; swiftly, quickly.
- rapid1677–Rapidly, with rapidity.
- velociously1680–
- express1765For a particular aim, goal, or object; specially; on purpose, deliberately; (hence) with speed, (very) quickly.
- quicklike1782–In a quick or rapid manner; quickly.
- spankingly1803–At a spanking pace; in a rapid and smart manner.
- spankily1842–Spankingly.
- fleetingly1883–
- quick-foot1891Swiftly, in haste; = on the quick-foot at sense C Obsolete.
- on the quick-foot1894–on the quick-foot: swiftly, in haste; = sense B
- zippily1924–In a zippy manner; quickly, with great energy or liveliness.
- hare-foot1939–Used adverbially: swiftly. poetic.
- fastOld English–1571In extended use (chiefly with other types of verb), in which fast is characterized as much by its… With verbs expressing forceful action or energetic…
- hardOld English–With a great deal of effort, energy, or force; strenuously, vigorously; assiduously; fiercely; (in early use occasionally) intensely, profoundly…
- hardlyOld English–With energy, force, or strenuous exertion; vigorously; violently. Now archaic and rare.
- starklyOld English–Strongly, powerfully, with force; stoutly, boldly; strenuously. Also: harshly, sternly, strictly. Now rare (Scottish in later use).
- strongOld English–gen. In the positive degree.
- stalworthlyc1175–1507Stoutly, strongly, etc.
- starkc1225–Strenuously, vigorously, hard; boldly, stoutly; firmly, strongly; (in later use) plainly, bluntly. Now rare (chiefly Scottish in later use).
- mainlyc1300–1656Of physical action: with force, vigour, or violence; mightily, vigorously, violently. Obsolete.
- fellc1330–1915In a fell manner; cruelly, fiercely, harshly; eagerly, vigorously. Obsolete.
- snellc1330–Vigorously, strongly, keenly, etc.
- stout1338–= stoutly, adv. Now rare. †to bear oneself stout: to behave haughtily or defiantly.
- wightlya1340–Bravely, boldly, valiantly, ‘stoutly’; strongly, vigorously, forcibly, powerfully, energetically.
- sadlya1375–1500Resolutely; with sustained vigour; hardily. Obsolete.
- sharplyc1380–Of conflict or attack: Eagerly, vigorously.
- tough1398–1827Vigorously, stoutly; persistently. Obsolete.
- stoutly1399–Vigorously, with might and main, lustily. ? Obsolete.
- throa1400–1508Obstinately; vigorously; boldly.
- wighta1400–Actively, nimbly, energetically; quickly, rapidly, swiftly. Obsolete or dialect.
- lustilyc1400–With vigour or energy; vigorously, energetically; with a will, heartily, cheerfully. Now said only of physical activity.
- sorec1400–With great force or vigour; strongly.
- vigourslyc1400–50Vigorously.
- stiff1422–Stiffly, firmly, tightly, hard, etc. Phrase, to give it to someone (pretty) stiff: to speak severely to, to rate.
- vigoriouslya1450–1602
- vigorouslya1450–In a vigorous manner; with vigour or energy; by means of vigorous action, measures, etc.; actively and strongly.
- actuallya1470Actively, energetically. Obsolete.
- stourlyc1480–Scottish. Fiercely, violently; stoutly, vigorously.
- forcely?a1500–1600By or with force or power, vigorously, violently.
- lustly1529–46Lustily, vigorously.
- fricklyc1540
- dingilya1555Perhaps: vehemently or with force.
- livelily?1565–In a lively manner; = lively, adv. (in various senses).
- crankly1566–In a ‘crank’ manner; lustily, briskly, boldly, etc.
- forcibly1578–With powerful effect, energetically, strongly, vigorously; also, convincingly.
- crank1579–94Boldly, briskly, lustily. Obsolete.
- wightily?a1600= wightly, adv.
- proudly1600With an aspect or manner suggesting pride; grandly, magnificently, splendidly; in a dignified manner; with vigour or force, spiritedly, exuberantly.
- energetically1609–In an energetic manner; with (great) energy.
- stiffly1623In a stiff manner; so as to be stiff; (in various senses of the adjective).
- ding-dong1628–colloquial. In a vigorous or determined manner; (later) esp. (with reference to a contest, fight, dispute, etc.) with a rapid or furious exchange…
- greenly1633–figurative (with allusion to growing vegetation). Freshly, vigorously, youthfully.
- hard and fast1646–With great energy or effort; vigorously, diligently. Also in later use: wildly, without restraint.
- slashingly1659–In a slashing manner; vigorously; severely.
- thwackingly1660–
- warmlya1684–With reference to attack or defence: Fiercely, vigorously.
- cut and thrust1703–1859In a manner characterized by cut and thrust; vigorously. Obsolete.
- robustly1709In a robust manner; strongly.
- sonsily1729–Heavily; palpably; amply. Also: in an attractive or appealing manner.
- forcefullya1774–
- vim1843–Force or vigour, energy, ‘go’. †Also as adv., vigorously, sharply.
- kinkily1876–98U.S. regional (New England). In a sprightly, lively, or energetic manner. Cf. kinky, adj. A.3. Obsolete.
- zippily1924–In a zippy manner; quickly, with great energy or liveliness.
- vibrantly1926–
- punchily1934–In a punchy manner; forcefully, effectively; vigorously.
- zingily1951–In a zingy manner; invigoratingly, energetically; with a zesty or piquant flavour. Cf. zingingly, adv.
- dumb hard2008–With a great deal of effort, energy, or force.