quick
1 of 3adjective
ˈkwik 
1
: acting or capable of acting with speed: such as
a(1)
: fast in development or occurrence
a quick succession of events
(2)
: done or taking place with rapidity
gave them a quick look
b(1)
: fast in understanding, thinking, or learning : mentally agile
a quick wit
quick thinking
(2)
: reacting to stimuli with speed and keen sensitivity
(3)
: aroused immediately and intensely
quick tempers
c
: marked by speed, readiness, or promptness of physical movement
walked with quick steps
d
: inclined to hastiness (as in action or response)
quick to criticize
e
: capable of being easily and speedily prepared
a quick and tasty dinner
2
: having a sharp angle
a quick turn in the road
3
: not dead : living, alive
4
a
: moving, shifting
quick mud
b
archaic : not stagnant : running, flowing
5
archaic : fiery, glowing
6
archaic : pregnant
7
obsolete
a
: pungent
b
: caustic
quickly adverb
quickness noun
quick
2 of 3adverb
: in a quick manner
quick
3 of 3noun
1
[probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse kvika sensitive flesh, from kvikr living]
a
: a painfully sensitive spot or area of flesh (such as that underlying a fingernail or toenail)
b
: the inmost sensibilities
hurt to the quick by the remark
c
: the very center of something : heart
2
quick plural : living beings
3
archaic : life sense 11
Synonyms
Adjective
- alacritous
- alert
- expeditious
- prompt
- ready
- willing
Adverb
- apace
- briskly
- chop-chop
- double-quick
- fast
- fleetly
- full tilt
- hastily
- hell-for-leather
- hot
- lickety-split
- posthaste
- presto
- pronto
- quickly
- rapidly
- snappily
- soon
- speedily
- swift
- swiftly
Noun
- belly
- blood
- bone(s)
- bosom
- breast
- core
- gut
- heart
- heartstrings
- inner space
- inside
- soul
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective They had a quick drink at the bar. She took a quick shower. She gave him a quick kiss. You're back already? That was quick! We made a quick decision, but it turned out to be a good one. He got a quick reply to his inquiry. His quick thinking allowed him to escape trouble. Her friends admired her quick wit. He walked with quick steps. She has quick, agile hands. Adverb a scheme to get rich quick I got used to living with a roommate pretty quick. I can't run any quicker. Noun that nasty comment cut me to the quick See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Geoffrey A. Fowler, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2023 And that folding process was quick, easy, and doable with one hand. —Chris Abell, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2023 The American Bird Association has published an ethical guide that’s a quick, but worthwhile read. —Rachel Wilkerson Miller, SELF, 7 Feb. 2023 Friends at a memorial service last week described him as joyful and kind, quick with a smile, often silly. —Dallas News, 1 Feb. 2023 Friends at a memorial service last week described him as joyful and kind, quick with a smile, often silly. —Aaron Morrison, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Feb. 2023 The envelope challenge videos have a get-rich-quick flair that is certainly viral and entertaining, but obviously the exception, not the rule. —Christine Romans, CNN, 31 Jan. 2023 While the heat up is quick (about 20 seconds), the reservoir of the steamer is painfully hot so be sure to only hold on to the handle. —Erinne Magee, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2023 Just relentless acceleration interrupted by lightning-quick shifts from the 8-speed, dual-clutch automatic gearbox. —cleveland, 28 Jan. 2023 Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2023 Porsche's quick-acting eight-speed automatic transmission handles gear changes for both drivetrains. —Austin Irwin, Car and Driver, 4 Feb. 2023 DeFazio was quick-tempered and defensive; Feeney was naive and trusting. —From Staff Reports And News Services, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2023 DeFazio was quick-tempered and defensive; Feeney was naive and trusting. —Andrew Dalton, Anchorage Daily News, 31 Jan. 2023 Some ranges feature a quick-boil burner that typically has a high wattage. —Eva Bleyer, Good Housekeeping, 26 Jan. 2023 That kind of instability has characterized the economy since the late 1970s and ’80s, when the notion of prioritizing shareholders above all else took root and companies embraced the strategy of growing fast and then cutting down quick. —Emma Goldberg, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2023 The cooktop sports five elements in various sizes, with a large, 3,000-watt quick-boil element that can heat up a pot of water in mere minutes. —Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Jan. 2023 These quick-marinated shrimp cook in just 10 minutes. —Christopher Michel, Country Living, 23 Jan. 2023 Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2022 Down by 7 with 4:30 to go in the third quarter, Brady delivered a quick out to Edelman, who then connected with Danny Amendola for the 51-yard touchdown pass. —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Dec. 2021 Hall’s adaptation cuts to the quick of the novel and transfers the shifting, unsettling quality of Larsen’s text back onto the viewer’s shoulders. —New York Times, 20 Oct. 2021 Jones took the snap and fired a quick out to Henry for 6 yards and the first down. —BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2021 While doing that quick of a workout might not seem worth the effort to pull on a sports bra and lace up your sneakers, there are actually a ton of compelling reasons to squeeze in a super-short session. —Jenny Mccoy, SELF, 11 July 2021 Strict border control, and a public quick to wear masks and take precautions after the experience of the 2003 SARS epidemic, have meant that Taiwan recorded a little more than 2,000 cases and 14 deaths. —Washington Post, 12 May 2021 Speed out Once again, Washington targeted a Browns linebacker (B.J. Goodson) by throwing a quick out to running back J.D. McKissic. —Ellis L. Williams, cleveland, 2 Oct. 2020 Cutting to our cultural quick is the show’s spin on a typical U.S. response to a nationwide problem: anger, paranoia and plenty of ulterior motives looking to make use of each. —Jacob Oller, chicagotribune.com, 25 Sep. 2020 See More
Adjective
People have been too quick to attribute human thinking to the current state of the art. —Geoffrey A. Fowler, Washington Post, 10 Feb. 2023 And that folding process was quick, easy, and doable with one hand. —Chris Abell, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2023 The American Bird Association has published an ethical guide that’s a quick, but worthwhile read. —Rachel Wilkerson Miller, SELF, 7 Feb. 2023 Friends at a memorial service last week described him as joyful and kind, quick with a smile, often silly. —Dallas News, 1 Feb. 2023 Friends at a memorial service last week described him as joyful and kind, quick with a smile, often silly. —Aaron Morrison, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Feb. 2023 The envelope challenge videos have a get-rich-quick flair that is certainly viral and entertaining, but obviously the exception, not the rule. —Christine Romans, CNN, 31 Jan. 2023 While the heat up is quick (about 20 seconds), the reservoir of the steamer is painfully hot so be sure to only hold on to the handle. —Erinne Magee, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2023 Just relentless acceleration interrupted by lightning-quick shifts from the 8-speed, dual-clutch automatic gearbox. —cleveland, 28 Jan. 2023 Adverb
Back and forth between his legs, lightning-quick, pulling up from deep in a buzzing gym. —Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2023 Porsche's quick-acting eight-speed automatic transmission handles gear changes for both drivetrains. —Austin Irwin, Car and Driver, 4 Feb. 2023 DeFazio was quick-tempered and defensive; Feeney was naive and trusting. —From Staff Reports And News Services, Washington Post, 31 Jan. 2023 DeFazio was quick-tempered and defensive; Feeney was naive and trusting. —Andrew Dalton, Anchorage Daily News, 31 Jan. 2023 Some ranges feature a quick-boil burner that typically has a high wattage. —Eva Bleyer, Good Housekeeping, 26 Jan. 2023 That kind of instability has characterized the economy since the late 1970s and ’80s, when the notion of prioritizing shareholders above all else took root and companies embraced the strategy of growing fast and then cutting down quick. —Emma Goldberg, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2023 The cooktop sports five elements in various sizes, with a large, 3,000-watt quick-boil element that can heat up a pot of water in mere minutes. —Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Jan. 2023 These quick-marinated shrimp cook in just 10 minutes. —Christopher Michel, Country Living, 23 Jan. 2023 Noun
But a turnaround that quick will cost you: the service is $400 for GenVisa and $799 for FastPort, and that’s not including any government fees. —Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2022 Down by 7 with 4:30 to go in the third quarter, Brady delivered a quick out to Edelman, who then connected with Danny Amendola for the 51-yard touchdown pass. —Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 10 Dec. 2021 Hall’s adaptation cuts to the quick of the novel and transfers the shifting, unsettling quality of Larsen’s text back onto the viewer’s shoulders. —New York Times, 20 Oct. 2021 Jones took the snap and fired a quick out to Henry for 6 yards and the first down. —BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2021 While doing that quick of a workout might not seem worth the effort to pull on a sports bra and lace up your sneakers, there are actually a ton of compelling reasons to squeeze in a super-short session. —Jenny Mccoy, SELF, 11 July 2021 Strict border control, and a public quick to wear masks and take precautions after the experience of the 2003 SARS epidemic, have meant that Taiwan recorded a little more than 2,000 cases and 14 deaths. —Washington Post, 12 May 2021 Speed out Once again, Washington targeted a Browns linebacker (B.J. Goodson) by throwing a quick out to running back J.D. McKissic. —Ellis L. Williams, cleveland, 2 Oct. 2020 Cutting to our cultural quick is the show’s spin on a typical U.S. response to a nationwide problem: anger, paranoia and plenty of ulterior motives looking to make use of each. —Jacob Oller, chicagotribune.com, 25 Sep. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English quik, from Old English cwic; akin to Old Norse kvikr living, Latin vivus living, vivere to live, Greek bios, zōē life
First Known Use
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Adverb
14th century, in the meaning defined above
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Phrases Containing quick
Kids Definition
quick
1 of 2 adjective ˈkwik
1
archaic : not dead : living, alive
2
a
: fast in understanding, thinking, or learning : mentally keen
b
: reacting with speed and alertness
c
: aroused immediately and easily
quick temper
d
: fast in development or occurrence
gave a quick look
e
: marked by speed, readiness, or promptness of action or movement
quick adverb
quickly adverb
quickness noun
quick
2 of 2 noun1
: living persons
the quick and the dead
2
: a very tender area of flesh (as under a fingernail)
3
: one's innermost feelings
hurt to the quick by the remark
4
: the very center of something : heart
the quick of the matter
Medical Definition
quick
1 of 2 adjective ˈkwik
1
: not dead : living, alive
2
: pregnant
quick
2 of 2 noun1
quick plural : living beings
2
: a painfully sensitive spot or area of flesh (as that underlying a fingernail)
quick 1 of 3
adjective
1
as in swift
having or showing the ability to respond without delay or hesitation she's a quick wit, always ready with a pun or joke when the moment calls for one Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- swift
- immediate
- rapid
- willing
- prompt
- ready
- responsive
- expeditious
- fast
- brisk
- clever
- alert
- instant
- instantaneous
- keen
- alacritous
- summary
- eager
- speedy
- smart
- sharp
- receptive
- snappy
- lightning
- whirlwind
- breakneck
- breathless
- apt
- rattling
- rapid-fire
- fleet
- quick-witted
- fleet-footed
- hit-and-run
- sharp-witted
- ready-witted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- slow
- unresponsive
- lazy
- leisurely
- unhurried
- sluggish
- dragging
- crawling
- tardy
- creeping
- pokey
- lagging
- dilatory
- slothful
- poky
- laggard
- slowish
- poking
- idle
- dillydallying
- inactive
- dallying
- dawdling
- inert
- logy
- lazyish
- loggy
- dormant
2
as in fast
having or showing quickness of mind a quick lad, he immediately caught on to how the machinery operated Synonyms & Similar Words
- fast
- clever
- intelligent
- smart
- brilliant
- sharp
- keen
- exceptional
- bright
- wise
- nimble
- skilled
- wise
- educated
- alert
- brainy
- quick-witted
- learned
- sensible
- cunning
- sharp-witted
- resourceful
- supersmart
- schooled
- apt
- ingenious
- insightful
- astute
- ultrasmart
- savvy
- creative
- reasonable
- acute
- informed
- prudent
- logical
- literate
- perceptive
- knowledgeable
- perspicacious
- knowing
- heady
- trained
- sagacious
- judicious
- scholarly
- cerebral
- hyperintelligent
- discerning
- erudite
- sound
- inventive
- rational
- sane
- shrewd
- highbrow
- crafty
- genial
- sage
- wily
- percipient
- foxy
- well-read
- sapient
- sapient
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- simple
- slow
- stupid
- dumb
- soft
- thick
- dense
- dull
- mindless
- fatuous
- dim
- opaque
- obtuse
- dopey
- vacuous
- brainless
- unintelligent
- boneheaded
- unbrilliant
- doltish
- witless
- senseless
- dunderheaded
- thickheaded
- dorky
- lamebrain
- lamebrained
- unsmart
- silly
- dopy
- knuckleheaded
- pinheaded
- softheaded
- foolish
- simpleminded
- chuckleheaded
- idiotic
- bubbleheaded
- gormless
- feebleminded
- moronic
- idiotical
- airheaded
- ignorant
- imbecilic
- imbecile
- lunkheaded
- dim-witted
- uninformed
- unthinking
- brain-dead
- uneducated
- birdbrained
- slow-witted
- unwise
- thick-witted
- illiterate
- empty-headed
- half-witted
- mad
- weak-minded
- crazy
- absurd
- insane
- untaught
- unintellectual
- zany
- lowbrow
- fool
- nutty
- unacademic
- nonintellectual
- wacky
- nonsensical
- sappy
- daft
- preposterous
- whacky
- asinine
- boobish
- dippy
- balmy
- kooky
- lunatic
- loony
- cuckoo
- half-baked
- harebrained
- daffy
- screwball
- dotty
- cockeyed
- looney
- crackpot
- featherheaded
- tomfool
- half-baked
- kookie
3
as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed a quick run through the car wash, and your vehicle will look as good as new Synonyms & Similar Words
- rapid
- fast
- brisk
- swift
- galloping
- speedy
- hasty
- hurried
- whirlwind
- hot
- rattling
- lightning
- snappy
- breakneck
- breathless
- flying
- zippy
- blistering
- splitting
- accelerated
- rapid-fire
- fleet
- prompt
- expeditious
- rushed
- at speed
- dizzy
- ready
- strong
- rush
- fleet-footed
- nippy
- vigorous
- hastened
- quickened
- breathtaking
- strenuous
- energetic
- high-speed
- ultrafast
- ultrarapid
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- slow
- unhurried
- sluggish
- deliberate
- leisurely
- dragging
- languid
- crawling
- pokey
- lingering
- plodding
- poky
- late
- laggard
- slowish
- measured
- dallying
- tardy
- dilatory
- poking
- dawdling
- dillydallying
- ultraslow
4
as in breathing
having or showing life after the battle, there was a hurried accounting of the quick and the dead Synonyms & Similar Words
- breathing
- alive
- live
- active
- dynamic
- vigorous
- animate
- lively
- living
- going
- animated
- current
- vital
- existing
- vibrant
- surviving
- vivacious
- prevailing
- thriving
- existent
- extant
- resurrected
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cold
- breathless
- dead
- departed
- expired
- dying
- lifeless
- deceased
- asleep
- fading
- inanimate
- defunct
- moribund
- gone
- resting
- finished
- absent
- nonliving
- ghostly
- nonexistent
- vanished
- terminated
- lost
- stillborn
- fallen
- ghostlike
- lapsed
- extinct
- barren
- wiped out
- desert
- ghosty
- zombielike
- perished
- reposing
5
as in keen
able to sense slight impressions or differences parlayed her quick eye for beauty into ownership of a top modeling agency Synonyms & Similar Words
- keen
- sensitive
- sharp
- accurate
- acute
- good
- precise
- delicate
- perceptive
- subtle
- fine
- clear
- sensible
- piercing
- receptive
- discerning
- supersensitive
- hypersensitive
- hair-trigger
- hyperacute
- oversensitive
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- bad
- dull
- fading
- insensitive
- dulled
- dead
- inaccurate
- numb
- insensible
- imprecise
- deadened
- dimmed
- imperceptive
6
as in gone
archaic containing unborn young within the body a woman quick with child Synonyms & Similar Words
- gone
- pregnant
- caught
- expecting
- big
- with young
- expectant
- with child
- heavy
- gravid
- enceinte
- prenatal
- childbearing
- brooding
- gestational
- conceiving
- parturient
- impregnated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- barren
- nonpregnant
- infertile
- delivered
- aborting
- miscarrying
quick
2 of 3adverb
as in quickly
with great speed watch out, as the cars pass by here pretty quick Synonyms & Similar Words
- quickly
- fast
- rapidly
- swiftly
- swift
- soon
- hot
- immediately
- promptly
- hastily
- speedily
- at full tilt
- briskly
- like gangbusters
- presto
- at full throttle
- like wildfire
- full tilt
- in short order
- lickety-split
- fleetly
- apace
- posthaste
- by leaps and bounds
- in a hurry
- double-quick
- like a shot
- pronto
- a mile a minute
- chop-chop
- abruptly
- readily
- snappily
- hell-for-leather
- impulsively
- rashly
- recklessly
- vigorously
- suddenly
- impetuously
- energetically
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- slowly
- slow
- leisurely
- sluggishly
- deliberately
- belatedly
- ploddingly
- laggardly
- tardily
- lingeringly
- delinquently
quick
3 of 3noun
as in heart
the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions that nasty comment cut me to the quick Synonyms & Similar Words
- heart
- soul
- bone(s)
- mind
- gut
- inside
- belly
- core
- blood
- breast
- inner space
- bosom
- conscience
- heartstrings
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of quick are apt, prompt, and ready. While all these words mean "able to respond without delay or hesitation or indicative of such ability," quick stresses instancy of response and is likely to connote native rather than acquired power.
quick reflexes
a keen quick mind
The words apt and quick can be used in similar contexts, but apt stresses the possession of qualities (such as intelligence, a particular talent, or a strong bent) that makes quick effective response possible.
an apt student
her answer was apt and to the point
While the synonyms prompt and quick are close in meaning, prompt is more likely to connote training and discipline that fits one for instant response.
prompt emergency medical care
The meanings of ready and quick largely overlap; however, ready suggests facility or fluency in response.
backed by a pair of ready assistants