quick

[ kwik ]

/ kwɪk /

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See synonyms for: quick / quicker / quickest / quicks on Thesaurus.com

adjective, quick·er, quick·est.

done, proceeding, or occurring with promptness or rapidity, as an action, process, etc.; prompt; immediate: a quick response.

that is over or completed within a short interval of time: a quick shower.

moving, or able to move, with speed: a quick fox; a quick train.

swift or rapid, as motion: a quick flick of the wrist.

easily provoked or excited; hasty: a quick temper.

keenly responsive; lively; acute: a quick wit.

acting with swiftness or rapidity: a quick worker.

prompt or swift to do something: quick to respond.

prompt to perceive; sensitive: a quick eye.

prompt to understand, learn, etc.; of ready intelligence: a quick student.

(of a bend or curve) sharp: a quick bend in the road.

consisting of living plants: a quick pot of flowers.

brisk, as fire, flames, heat, etc.

Archaic.

endowed with life.
having a high degree of vigor, energy, or activity.

noun

living persons: the quick and the dead.

the tender, sensitive flesh of the living body, especially that under the nails: nails bitten down to the quick.

the vital or most important part.

Chiefly British.

a line of shrubs or plants, especially of hawthorn, forming a hedge.
a single shrub or plant in such a hedge.

adverb, quick·er, quick·est.

quickly.

OTHER WORDS FOR quick

1 fleet, expeditious.

5 abrupt, curt, short, precipitate.

7 nimble, agile, brisk.

See synonyms for quick on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR quick

1, 10 slow.

See antonyms for quick on Thesaurus.com

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There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about quick

cut to the quick, to injure deeply; hurt the feelings of: Their callous treatment cut her to the quick.

Origin of quick

First recorded before 900; Middle English quik “lively, moving, swift”; Old English cwic, cwicu “living”; cognate with Old Saxon quik, German queck, keck, Old Norse kvikr; akin to Latin vīvus “living” (see vital), Sanskrit jivas “living,” Greek bíos “life” (see bio-), zoḗ “animal life” (see zoo-)

synonym study for quick

1. Quick, fast, swift, rapid describe speedy tempo. Quick applies particularly to something practically instantaneous, an action or reaction, perhaps, of very brief duration: to give a quick look around; to take a quick walk. Fast and swift refer to actions, movements, etc., that continue for a time, and usually to those that are uninterrupted; when used of communication, transportation, and the like, they suggest a definite goal and a continuous trip. Swift, the more formal word, suggests the greater speed: a fast train; a swift message. Rapid, less speedy than the others, applies to a rate of movement or action, and usually to a series of actions or movements, related or unrelated: rapid calculation; a rapid walker. 10. See sharp.

words often confused with quick

The difference between the adverbial forms quick and quickly is frequently stylistic. Quick is more often used in short spoken sentences, especially imperative ones: Come quick! The chimney is on fire. Quickly is the usual form in writing, both in the preverb position ( We quickly realized that attempts to negotiate would be futile ) and following verbs other than imperatives ( She turned quickly and left ). See also slow, sure.

OTHER WORDS FROM quick

quickness, nounun·quick, adjectiveun·quick·ly, adverbun·quick·ness, noun

Words nearby quick

Quibdó, Quiberon, quiche, quiche Lorraine, Quichua, quick, quick-and-dirty, quick and the dead, quick as a wink, quick assets, quick bread

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use quick in a sentence

A quick glance at Facebook search results for QAnon indicates it cannot.
Facebook tries to clean up Groups with new policies|Sarah Perez|September 17, 2020|TechCrunch
Of course, Recon is not without competitors also looking to sell quick, affordable small-van conversions.
Can’t Afford a Sprinter? Get a Tiny Van Instead.|Emily Pennington|September 16, 2020|Outside Online
He was fully committed to the work even though he knew he was the quickest player that we had.
A Canadian Teenager Is One Of The Fastest Soccer Players In The World|Julian McKenzie|September 16, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
For quick reference, though, we’ve put Mac shortcuts in parentheses.
Make online classes easier with these laptop shortcuts|Sandra Gutierrez G.|September 15, 2020|Popular-Science

Apple has a variety of lesser products in development at all times and some could make a quick debut at this week’s event.
Apple’s ‘Time Flies’ event: 5 things to look for|Aaron Pressman|September 15, 2020|Fortune
He could deliver a quick, effective speech, or hold a proper press conference.
Obama’s Pot Policy Is Refer Madness|James Poulos|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
American lawmakers were quick to praise the military operation.
Final Chapter for Accused Africa Bomber|Jamie Dettmer|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Other footage shows him fleeing, keeping to a quick walk, jogging briefly, then walking again as he heads for a subway station.
Exclusive: Inside a Cop-Killer’s Final Hours|Michael Daly|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Most people know the Universal Life Church as a quick and easy place to get ordained without leaving your couch.
The Daily Beast’s Best Longreads, Dec 15-21, 2014|William Boot|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Geisbert was also quick to mention how the methodology of the study could be affecting the current results.
Uh Oh: Ebola Vaccine Trials Stop|Leigh Cowart|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Before he could finish the sentence the Hole-keeper said snappishly, "Well, drop out again—quick!"
Davy and The Goblin|Charles E. Carryl
His enemies in the cabinet were quick to perceive when their devices had taken effect on the King and Queen.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
I've tried to teach lots of folks; an' sum learns quick, an' some don't never learn; it's jest 's 't strikes 'em.
Ramona|Helen Hunt Jackson
Bernard uttered a quick exclamation, but Angela checked him with a glance, and Gordon looked from one of them to the other.
Confidence|Henry James
A quick vision of death smote her soul, and for a second of time appalled and enfeebled her senses.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories|Kate Chopin

British Dictionary definitions for quick

quick

/ (kwɪk) /

adjective

(of an action, movement, etc) performed or occurring during a comparatively short timea quick move

lasting a comparatively short time; briefa quick flight

accomplishing something in a time that is shorter than normala quick worker

characterized by rapidity of movement; swift or fasta quick walker

immediate or prompta quick reply

(postpositive) eager or ready to perform (an action)quick to criticize

responsive to stimulation; perceptive or alert; livelya quick eye

eager or enthusiastic for learninga quick intelligence

easily excited or arouseda quick temper

skilfully swift or nimble in one's movements or actions; deftquick fingers

archaic

alive; living
(as noun) living people (esp in the phrase the quick and the dead)

archaic, or dialect lively or eagera quick dog

(of a fire) burning briskly

composed of living plantsa quick hedge

dialect (of sand) lacking firmness through being wet

quick with child archaic pregnant, esp being in an advanced state of pregnancy, when the movements of the fetus can be felt

noun

any area of living flesh that is highly sensitive to pain or touch, esp that under a toenail or fingernail or around a healing wound

the vital or most important part (of a thing)

short for quickset (def. 1)

cut someone to the quick to hurt someone's feelings deeply; offend gravely

adverb informal

in a rapid or speedy manner; swiftly

soonI hope he comes quick

interjection

a command requiring the hearer to perform an action immediately or in as short a time as possible

Derived forms of quick

quickly, adverbquickness, noun

Word Origin for quick

Old English cwicu living; related to Old Saxon quik, Old High German queck, Old Norse kvikr alive, Latin vīvus alive, Greek bios life

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with quick

quick

In addition to the idioms beginning with quick

quick and the dead
quick as a wink
quick off the mark
quick one, a
quick on the draw
quick on the uptake

also see:

cut to the quick
(quick) on the uptake

quick

OTHER WORDS FOR quick

OPPOSITES FOR quick

Idioms about quick

Origin of quick

synonym study for quick

words often confused with quick

OTHER WORDS FROM quick

Words nearby quick

Words related to quick

How to use quick in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for quick

Derived forms of quick

Word Origin for quick

Other Idioms and Phrases with quick