quicken

verb

quick·​en ˈkwi-kən How to pronounce quicken (audio)
quickened; quickening ˈkwi-kə-niŋ How to pronounce quicken (audio)
ˈkwik-niŋ

transitive verb

1
a
: to make alive : revive
b
: to cause to be enlivened : stimulate
2
archaic
a
: kindle
b
: to cause to burn more intensely
3
: to make more rapid : hasten, accelerate
quickened her steps
4
a
: to make (a curve) sharper
b
: to make (a slope) steeper

intransitive verb

1
: to quicken something
2
: to come to life
especially : to enter into a phase of active growth and development
seeds quickening in the soil
3
: to reach the stage of gestation at which fetal motion is felt
4
: to shine more brightly
watched the dawn quickening in the east
5
: to become more rapid
her pulse quickened at the sight
quickener
ˈkwi-kə-nər How to pronounce quicken (audio)
ˈkwik-nər
noun
Choose the Right Synonym for quicken

quicken, animate, enliven, vivify mean to make alive or lively.

quicken stresses a sudden renewal of life or activity especially in something inert.

the arrival of spring quickens the earth

animate emphasizes the imparting of motion or vitality to what is or might be mechanical or artificial.

happiness animated his conversation

enliven suggests a stimulus that arouses from dullness or torpidity.

enlivened her lectures with humorous anecdotes

vivify implies a freshening or energizing through renewal of vitality.

new blood needed to vivify the dying club

synonyms see in addition provoke

Examples of quicken in a Sentence

Stimulants can quicken the heart rate. His pulse quickened at the thought of seeing her again. The approach of the deadline quickened our sense of urgency. The drama quickened when police arrived at the scene.
Recent Examples on the Web From these, the whales might be able to sense her heartbeat quickening. Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 24 Feb. 2024 Off the coasts, rising sea levels due to global warming cause waves to be bigger, quickening rates of erosion and contributing to California’s rising tides. Leila Sackur, NBC News, 4 Feb. 2024 On defense, the 49ers generated enough pressure to fold Mahomes back into the pocket and quicken his timing. Steve Gardner, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024 Expect burning fingertips and toes, racing hearts and quickening breath, involuntarily shaking. Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2023 Meanwhile, the quickening pace of the rumor mill has tens of thousands of employees across Paramount and Warner Bros. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 18 Jan. 2024 This last movement, with its not-so-reckless abandon, was the big thrill of the night, Cho quickening his dialogue with the orchestra, intensifying his feats of dynamic derring-do, even applying a bit of barroom swagger here and there. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 26 Jan. 2024 The heat also quickens up the thickening, which in the fridge would take hours. Kate Kassin, Bon Appétit, 25 Jan. 2024 Every hunter’s heart quickens at the mere sight of antlers, and humans have kept them as totems and trophies since forever. Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 10 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quicken.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of quicken was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near quicken

Cite this Entry

“Quicken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quicken. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

quicken

verb
quick·​en ˈkwik-ən How to pronounce quicken (audio)
quickened; quickening -(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce quicken (audio)
1
a
: to make or become alive : revive
warm spring days that quickened the earth
b
: arouse sense 2, stimulate
curiosity quickened her interest
2
: to make or become quicker : hasten
quickened her steps
3
a
: to begin growth and development
seeds quickening in the soil
b
: to reach the stage of fetal growth at which motion is begun

Medical Definition

quicken

intransitive verb
quick·​en ˈkwik-ən How to pronounce quicken (audio)
quickened; quickening -(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce quicken (audio)
: to reach the stage of gestation at which fetal motion is felt

More from Merriam-Webster on quicken

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