quirk

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: an abrupt twist or curve
b
: a peculiar trait : idiosyncrasy
c
: accident, vagary
a quirk of fate
2
: a groove separating a bead or other molding from adjoining members
quirkish adjective

quirk

2 of 2

verb

quirked; quirking; quirks
: curve, twist
quirked his eyebrows

Did you know?

Those whose quirk is to zig while others zag (and conversely those who zag while others zig) will appreciate the origins of today’s word. Not its etymological origins, mind you—no one knows whence quirk came—but the twists and turns of its meanings across the centuries. The oldest known use of quirk dates to the mid-1500s, and referred to a clever verbal dodge of the kind one might use to turn the tables on someone in an argument or debate. It didn’t take long for quirk’s meaning to expand to cover all kinds of twisty, turn-y things, from witty retorts and curlicue flourishes made with ink on paper to the vagaries or twists of fate. The sense of quirk meaning “a peculiarity of action or behavior” refers to a twist of sorts as well, insofar as our quirks often flip others’ expectations of us, perhaps even causing them to quirk their eyebrows now and again. In a surprising twist, quirk began to be used as a verb meaning “to curve or twist” in the late 1800s.

Examples of quirk in a Sentence

Noun Everyone has their little quirks. wearing red shoes every day is just one of her quirks
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The difference with French is that the Dublin Murder Squad novels bend and train themselves around each detective’s quirks—Cassie’s hungry confusion, Rob’s baggy vulnerability, Mackey’s slick bravado—like a pear tree espaliered against a sturdy garden wall. Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2024 Other ensemble members include Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Chris Perfetti. Everything to Know About Abbott Elementary Season 3 Only Murders in the Building has built a dedicated fanbase drawn to its quirks and generous laughs. Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024 Thanks to some quirks this year, some Michigan income tax refunds are taking longer than expected to get for many people who filed their state returns in the first few days of the tax season. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 22 Feb. 2024 But one of the knock-on effects of being the most powerful nation in the world is that the world will get to know your political system very well — along with all its petty quirks and partisan divisions. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2024 Imagine navigating the walls of communication with legacy systems, each with its unique quirks and intricacies. Amandeep Midha, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024 This one had a few more quirks, but for the third time in three tries since the All-Star break, the not bad, but far-from-optimal version of the Colorado Avalanche proved to be not enough against one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. Corey Masisak, The Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2024 Even with all that creative freedom, given David’s quirks, real and imagined, its longevity is frankly remarkable. Brian Lowry, CNN, 4 Feb. 2024 Experienced email marketers will find the software relatively easy to use, though its depth and automation quirks may present a challenge to newcomers. Gabriel Zamora, PCMAG, 31 Jan. 2024
Verb
Are these personality quirks the essence of their brilliance or pathological eccentricities which sabotage greatness and should not be excused? Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2023 Working from home: The fun quirks couples learn about each other Look and sound more professional Mind your manners in online meetings by following these tips For video meetings, the eyes have it. Brett Molina, USA TODAY, 4 June 2020 But many other smaller outfits were unable to access the loan program, even as some larger firms took advantage of the program’s quirks to get approval for high-dollar relief. Tom Benning, Dallas News, 23 Apr. 2020

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quirk was in 1565

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near quirk

Cite this Entry

“Quirk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quirk. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

quirk

noun
ˈkwərk
1
: a sudden turn, twist, or curve
2
: an odd personal habit : idiosyncrasy
quirky
ˈkwər-kē
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on quirk

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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