quicken
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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to become more active, sensitive, etc..
This drug causes the pulse to quicken.
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to become alive; receive life.
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(of the mother) to enter that stage of pregnancy in which the fetus gives indications of life.
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(of a fetus in the womb) to begin to manifest signs of life.
verb
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to make or become faster; accelerate
he quickened his walk
her heartbeat quickened with excitement
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to impart to or receive vigour, enthusiasm, etc; stimulate or be stimulated
science quickens man's imagination
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to make or become alive; revive
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(of an unborn fetus) to begin to show signs of life
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(of a pregnant woman) to reach the stage of pregnancy at which movements of the fetus can be felt
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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quickensimple
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quickenssimple
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have quickenedperfect
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has quickenedperfect
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am quickeningprogressive
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are quickeningprogressive
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is quickeningprogressive
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have been quickeningperfect progressive
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has been quickeningperfect progressive
Past
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quickenedsimple
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had quickenedperfect
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was quickeningprogressive
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were quickeningprogressive
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had been quickeningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of quicken
First recorded in 1250–1300, quicken is from the Middle English word quikenen. See quick, -en 1
Explanation
When things quicken, they speed up or make something go faster. If you're late for school, you should probably quicken your pace. Your heartbeat probably quickens when you're afraid or after you've been running fast, and you could also say that your curiosity quickens (or increases) when you overhear a mysterious phone call. The oldest meaning of quicken, however, is "come to life," a definition which sounds very old fashioned now, but which was once used to describe an advanced stage of pregnancy: "The fetus began to quicken."
Vocabulary lists containing quicken
Scrabble: Words that Begin with Q
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Tolkien Reading Day, List 9
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"What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" Vocabulary from the speech
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
If the World Cup helps quicken the pace of moves to de-escalate, there could be a material impact on energy prices, supplies and the world economy.
From BBC ● Jun. 11, 2026
Its revenue growth is expected to quicken in 2027-2028 at 50% per year, driven by China’s memory makers’ capacity expansion upcycle in coming 3-5 years amid the global memory shortage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026
Inflation data are already showing elevated price pressures in the world’s biggest economy, and surging oil prices will only quicken the pace over the coming months.
From Barron's ● Mar. 19, 2026
The reopening has begun, and this should quicken the pace for a potential December rate cut, which is now seen as essentially a 50-50 tossup according to the FedWatch tool provided by CME.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 14, 2025
All that had once annoyed Dede about her spoiled, big-mouthed cousin now seems to quicken something in her heart.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
Game shipments are likely to rise around 10% next fiscal year, given user engagement typically quickens in the second year of a console cycle, he adds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 11, 2026
The shot is already marketed in the U.S. and requires two doses over one month, which quickens seroprotection compared to hepatitis B vaccines that are delivered in three doses over six months.
From Barron's ● Dec. 24, 2025
As the beat picks up, the dancer quickens their steps to a jog — but seemingly slips on stage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 20, 2024
My heartbeat quickens just a little as the cab approaches.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2023
“Don’t worry. He’s not going to pop the question or anything,” I reply coolly, though my pulse quickens.
From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed
PCE inflation, the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure, quickened to 3.5% in March, the highest in nearly three years.
From Barron's ● May 4, 2026
Although his speech set a record for length, these moments quickened the pace of the evening and fit with the president's larger theme of American patriotism and accomplishment.
From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2026
About 35 minutes in, Lamphere’s vitals started spiking; her heart rate quickened, she grew hot, her pupils dilated, she began grinding her teeth.
From Slate ● Jan. 30, 2026
Malaysia’s consumer-price growth quickened in December but remained benign.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 22, 2026
His footsteps quickened as he tried to catch up.
From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds
SGX’s May equity-market turnover data shows a quickening trend toward a higher “baseline velocity” that should drive structurally higher securities daily average value in the medium-term, the analyst says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026
I scanned nearby tables for friends but was distracted by a woman quickening her pace toward the only available stool at the counter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 6, 2026
An AI bubble, however, remains the market’s biggest “tail risk” according to the December survey, followed by worries over a disorderly surge in bond yields and a renewed quickening of inflation pressures.
From Barron's ● Dec. 16, 2025
And they might increase the gradient and speed on the treadmill until you feel your heart beating faster and your breath quickening.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 23, 2025
His blood grew hot with an old excitement, a quickening of the pulse he hadn’t felt since descending the mountain to explore the back streets of Bursa.
From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
