The verb to speed · Conjugation
Past Simple of speed
The answer: sped
A2
A finished action at a definite time in the past.
Quick answer
The Past Simple of the verb to speed is sped.
Example: The car sped past us.
Full conjugation in the Past Simple
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| I | sped |
| You | sped |
| He / She / It | sped |
| We | sped |
| You (pl.) | sped |
| They | sped |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Sped or speeded?
Sped = moving fast. Speeded = driving too fast. The difference is small: if you are not sure, use sped.
2. Speed is also a noun
Speed (noun) = how fast something moves. At top speed = as fast as possible: He ran at top speed.
Practice quiz
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of speed?+
Sped (irregular, general meaning) or speeded (regular, for driving too fast). Speed → sped → sped.
Is it sped or speeded?+
Use sped for moving fast in general: The car sped away. Use speeded for driving too fast: He speeded through the village (he drove faster than allowed). The difference is small.
What is a speed limit?+
The speed limit is the fastest speed allowed on a road. The speed limit here is 50 mph. You see it on road signs.
What does speeding ticket mean?+
A speeding ticket is what the police give you when you drive too fast. You have to pay money: He got a speeding ticket.
What is the opposite of speed up?+
Speed up = to go faster. The opposite is slow down = to go slower. Both phrasal verbs are very useful.
Related pages: speed Past Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/speed/past-simple
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to speed are coming soon.