velocity
noun
ve·loc·i·ty
və-ˈlä-sə-tē 
-ˈlä-stē
plural velocities
1
a
: quickness of motion : speed
the velocity of sound
b
: rapidity of movement
[my horse's] strong suit is grace & personal comeliness, rather than velocity—
Mark Twain
Mark Twain
c
: speed imparted to something
the power pitcher relies on velocity—Tony Scherman
Tony Scherman2
: the rate of change of position along a straight line with respect to time : the derivative of position with respect to time
3
a
: rate of occurrence or action : rapidity
the velocity of historical change—R. J. Lifton
R. J. Lifton
b
: rate of turnover
the velocity of money
Synonyms
Examples of velocity in a Sentence
particles moving at high velocities
measuring the velocity of sound
the velocity of a bullet
Recent Examples on the Web
His velocity will go anywhere from 92 to 100, which is very tough for a hitter.
—Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
But the timing of his sophisticated mechanics — which include some nimble footwork, a full extension of his throwing arm, then a violent whipping motion that allows even his 5-foot-10 frame to generate above-average velocity — got all out of whack.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
The blast traveled 440 feet and registered a 110.8 mph exit velocity.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024
Depth and velocity of the water are not always obvious; the ground or road may suddenly wash away and hidden dangers may exist; do not attempt to evacuate through floodwaters.
—Staff Reports, The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2024
According to Baseball Savant, there have been five ball players who have hit a baseball with an exit velocity of at least 120 mph since 2015 when the technology was installed in ballparks across Major League Baseball.
—Wayne G. McDonnell, Jr., Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
His four-seam fastball velocity averaged 96.7 mph and touched 98.3.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2024
Harrison was able to hit 97 mph on the radar gun — three ticks faster than his average velocity — before even ramping up to maximum effort.
—Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2024
Compounding that difficulty, the collision occurred just one day past a full moon, when tidal current velocities are especially strong.
—Jackie Northam, NPR, 27 Mar. 2024
Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
But the timing of his sophisticated mechanics — which include some nimble footwork, a full extension of his throwing arm, then a violent whipping motion that allows even his 5-foot-10 frame to generate above-average velocity — got all out of whack.
—Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 6 Apr. 2024
The blast traveled 440 feet and registered a 110.8 mph exit velocity.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024
Depth and velocity of the water are not always obvious; the ground or road may suddenly wash away and hidden dangers may exist; do not attempt to evacuate through floodwaters.
—Staff Reports, The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2024
According to Baseball Savant, there have been five ball players who have hit a baseball with an exit velocity of at least 120 mph since 2015 when the technology was installed in ballparks across Major League Baseball.
—Wayne G. McDonnell, Jr., Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
His four-seam fastball velocity averaged 96.7 mph and touched 98.3.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 Mar. 2024
Harrison was able to hit 97 mph on the radar gun — three ticks faster than his average velocity — before even ramping up to maximum effort.
—Laurence Miedema, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2024
Compounding that difficulty, the collision occurred just one day past a full moon, when tidal current velocities are especially strong.
—Jackie Northam, NPR, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'velocity.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near velocity
Cite this Entry
“Velocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/velocity. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
velocity
noun
ve·loc·i·ty
və-ˈläs-ət-ē
-ˈläs-tē
plural velocities
1
: quickness of motion : speed
the velocity of sound
2
: the rate of change of position along a straight line with respect to time
3
: rate of occurrence or action
the velocity of political change
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