quick

1 of 3

adjective

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
b
quickly adverb
quickness noun

quick

2 of 3

adverb

: in a quick manner

quick

3 of 3

noun

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
Choose the Right Synonym for quick

quick, prompt, ready, apt 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

prompt is more likely to connote training and discipline that fits one for instant response.

prompt emergency medical care

ready suggests facility or fluency in response.

backed by a pair of ready assistants

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

synonyms see in addition fast

Examples of quick in a Sentence

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
Adjective
But Missouri responded with a quick 60-yard drive leading to a 32-yard Harrison Mevis field goal for the game winner at the buzzer. Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 24 Nov. 2023 See some of the most adorable photos of Roker being the best grandpa ever to baby Sky. 01 of 10 Magic Moments Roker was quick to share his excitement after his daughter became a mom. Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023 Some crisis communications experts said Combs’ quick settlement of the abuse claims could blunt further damage to his brand and businesses. Nicole Childers, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2023 Word to the wise: For quicker set time, use hot water. Cheryl Fenton, Parents, 22 Nov. 2023 Pulverizing undersized Chaminade with their size, the Bruins had rolled to a quick 24-point lead in the teams’ second game of the Maui Invitational. Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2023 After a quick day trip to buy cheaper American gas, Zheng found his route home barricaded by a huge police presence. Maria Sacchetti, Washington Post, 22 Nov. 2023 Guests can sign up for group lessons, book a private instructor, or try out the Early Access Tune-Up program for a quick personalized tips-and-techniques refresher and the chance to hit the slopes before the lifts open to the public. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 22 Nov. 2023 This formula is an easy and quick way to estimate investment gains. Anna-Louise Jackson, wsj.com, 11 Nov. 2023
Adverb
Those who spend a lot of time in the kitchen will appreciate a sleek cutting board or a new pot from Our Place, while this Dyson cordless vacuum that’s now 20 percent off will help the post-holiday clean-up go quicker. Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 24 Nov. 2023 This could slash wait times for patients while making the diagnosis process quicker as well. Byprarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 22 Nov. 2023 For my high porosity hair, however, the water would absorb quicker than the comb snapping through my knots– usually resulting in uncontrollable tears. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 17 Nov. 2023 The Wonder Oven is a 6-in-1 air fryer and toaster oven that bakes, broils, reheats, broils, roasts, toasts, and fries, and, according to the brand, can preheat 75 percent quicker and cook 30 percent faster than traditional ovens. Dhara Patel, Peoplemag, 7 Nov. 2023 Cloudflare urged Okta to act quicker in the future when learning of security breaches, providing disclosures sooner and requiring the use of hardware keys to protect internal systems and systems used by third-party support providers. Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 2 Nov. 2023 When a person has psoriasis, their body makes skin cells quicker than normal by creating the cells in a few days instead of weeks.25 Most people have plaque psoriasis as a result of new cell growth producing piles of skin cells on the skin. Health Editorial Team, Health, 30 Oct. 2023 Part of the allure comes from walking around and seeing what catches your eye—plus, the store regularly restocks its shelves (and products sell out quick), leaving some regular shoppers making weekly trips to see what's new. Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2023 Yet for some staff, who may be cracking on with reports or data analysis, there may be far more value in working somewhere remotely to get the job done quicker. Byeleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 Oct. 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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quick.' 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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of quick was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near quick

Cite this Entry

“Quick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quick. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.

Kids Definition

quick

1 of 2 adjective
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 noun
1
: 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
1
: not dead : living, alive
2

quick

2 of 2 noun
1
quick plural : living beings
2
: a painfully sensitive spot or area of flesh (as that underlying a fingernail)

More from Merriam-Webster on quick

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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