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Planning & Processnoun|verb · /sprɪnt/

sprint

In simple English

Sprint is a core concept in Agile and Scrum methodologies. A sprint is a structured iteration where teams plan what they will build, execute that plan daily, and review their progress at the end. During a sprint, work is organized into tasks pulled from a backlog, and the team commits to completing them by the sprint deadline. This differs from continuous work because it creates clear boundaries, deadlines, and review cycles that help teams stay focused and organized. Sprints typically last one to four weeks, with two-week sprints being very common in many companies. The term has become standard vocabulary in tech companies worldwide, used both in formal planning meetings and casual conversations about work progress.

Understand what a sprint is in Agile and Scrum development, how long it lasts, and how to organize work within one.

At a glanceCEFR B2
Commonness5/5
Versatility4/5
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK
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Say it like this

✓We are in sprint right now.
✓Can you get this done in the next sprint?
✓Let us sprint on this feature.

Real examples

in a standup

"During this sprint, we are focusing on improving the API performance."

in a planning meeting

"We should sprint the user authentication module before the next release."

in a team message

"If we sprint hard on testing next week, we can launch by Friday."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Do not confuse with running fast; in tech, sprint refers to planned time-boxed iterations, not urgent rushing. Also, avoid using as a verb meaning just to work quickly without the structured planning context.

✕We need to sprint this bug fix immediately.
✓We need to prioritize this bug fix in the next sprint or work on it as a hotfix.— Sprint refers to a planned iteration, not an emergency action. Use hotfix or priority instead for urgent work outside the sprint cycle.
✕Everyone is sprinting all day long.
✓We are in a busy sprint this week.— Sprint is a time period or plan, not a continuous state of rushing. Use a descriptor like busy sprint instead.
✕We sprinted the project last month.
✓We completed the project in a tight sprint last month.— Use an adjective like tight or intense to describe the nature of the sprint, not just the verb alone.

Other forms

noun

sprint

"Our next sprint will focus on backend optimization."

verb

sprint

"We are going to sprint on the mobile app redesign this cycle."

noun

sprinting

"Sprinting on multiple features at once can reduce code quality."

Often used with

sprint planningThe meeting at the start of a sprint where the team decides what work to do
sprint reviewThe meeting at the end of a sprint to show completed work to stakeholders
sprint backlogThe list of tasks selected for completion during the current sprint
two-week sprintA common sprint duration used by many tech teams
sprint goalThe main objective or outcome the team aims to achieve in a sprint

Similar words

iterationMore formal; often used interchangeably, but iteration is broader and can apply to other processes
cycleMore general; sprint is more specific and structured than a generic cycle
release cycleRelated but broader; a release cycle may contain multiple sprints

Opposites

waterfalllong-term planning

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. Your manager asks when the payment feature will be done. What do you say?

Complete the sentence

2. We need to finish the database migration before the _______ ends.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses sprint incorrectly?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this in tech English using sprint: 'We will work very hard and fast on the dashboard redesign for the next month.'

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "sprint" in a standup this week?

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