A. Going fast

These verbs suggest going somewhere very quickly on foot or in a vehicle: dash, fly, race, tear.
I dashed into the classroom to pick up my books.
She came flying out of her house.
I raced/tore to the station and just made it in time for the last train.
The verbs nip and pop suggest going a short distance quickly: I nipped/popped into a shop to buy a bottle of water.
The verb dart suggests a quick, sudden movement, often by an animal: A dragonfly darted past.
I darted behind the door to hide.
The verbs zip and whizz are often used about vehicles: The bus whizzed/zipped past me just as I got to the stop.
The verb bolt suggests fast movement over a short distance but also running away: The thieves bolted when the alarm went off.
The verb career suggests something moving rapidly and out of control: The car careerered down a bank.
Animals scamper, scurry or scuttle with small rapid steps: Mice scampered away.
These verbs emphasise increase in speed: speed up, accelerate. We’d better speed up if we’re going to get there on time.

B. Going up or down fast

These verbs suggest downward movement as well as speed: plunge, plummet. Our hopes plummeted.
Fast upward movement: rocket, soar. When our export sales rocketed, our hopes soared.
Soar can describe feelings: My heart soared when I heard the news.
The opposite of soar and rocket is slump or tumble. Share prices slumped.

Emphasising slow movement: crawl, creep. Prices have been creeping up.
Totter suggests unsteady slowness: She tottered down the road.
Sidle means to walk anxiously: Sam sidled up to the desk.
Dawdle means to move more slowly than necessary: Don’t dawdle on the way home.