Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

1

quick

play
adjective \ˈkwik\

Definition of quick

  1. 1 :  not dead :  living, alive

  2. 2 :  acting or capable of acting with speed: such asa (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 tempersb (1) :  fast in development or occurrence a quick succession of events (2) :  done or taking place with rapidity gave them a quick lookc :  marked by speed, readiness, or promptness of physical movement walked with quick stepsd :  inclined to hastiness (as in action or response) quick to criticizee :  capable of being easily and speedily prepared a quick and tasty dinner

  3. 3a archaic :  not stagnant :  running, flowingb :  moving, shifting quick mud

  4. 4 archaic :  fiery, glowing

  5. 5 obsolete a :  pungentb :  caustic

  6. 6 archaic :  pregnant

  7. 7 :  having a sharp angle a quick turn in the road

quickly

adverb

quickness

noun

See quick defined for English-language learners

See quick defined for kids

Explore Merriam-Webster

alt-594bf2ec5f26e
Quick: Read This!
alt-596f7d8840dd5
Trending: Trend Watch: 'Admiral's Mast' & A Mystery At Sea
video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066
image386126722
Words That Come From the Dinner Table

Examples of quick in a Sentence

  1. They had a quick drink at the bar.

  2. She took a quick shower.

  3. She gave him a quick kiss.

  4. You're back already? That was quick!

  5. We made a quick decision, but it turned out to be a good one.

  6. He got a quick reply to his inquiry.

  7. His quick thinking allowed him to escape trouble.

  8. Her friends admired her quick wit.

  9. He walked with quick steps.

  10. She has quick, agile hands.

Origin and Etymology of quick

Middle English quik, from Old English cwic; akin to Old Norse kvikr living, Latin vivus living, vivere to live, Greek bios, zōē life

quick Synonyms

Synonyms
alacritous, alert, expeditious, prompt, ready, willing
Antonyms
airheaded, birdbrained, boneheaded, brain-dead, brainless, bubbleheaded, chuckleheaded, dense, dim, dim-witted, doltish, dopey (also dopy), dorky [slang], dull, dumb, dunderheaded, empty-headed, fatuous, gormless [chiefly British], half-witted, knuckleheaded, lamebrain (or lamebrained), lunkheaded, mindless, obtuse, opaque, pinheaded, senseless, simple, slow, slow-witted, soft, softheaded, stupid, thick, thickheaded, thick-witted, unbrilliant, unintelligent, unsmart, vacuous, weak-minded, witless
Related Words
receptive, responsive; immediate, instant, instantaneous, summary; breakneck, breathless, brisk, fast, fleet, fleet-footed, hit-and-run, lightning, rapid, rapid-fire, rattling, snappy, speedy, swift, whirlwind; eager, keen, sharp; apt, clever, , quick-witted, ready-witted, sharp-witted, smart
Near Antonyms
unresponsive; crawling, creeping, dallying, dawdling, dilatory, dillydallying, dragging, laggard, lagging, lazy, lazyish, leisurely, logy (also loggy), poking, poky (or pokey), slothful, slow, slowish, sluggish, tardy, unhurried; dormant, idle, inactive, inert

Synonym Discussion of 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

2

quick

noun

Definition of quick

  1. 1 quick plural :  living beings

  2. 2 [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 remarkc :  the very center of something :  heart

  3. 3 archaic :  life 11

See quick defined for English-language learners

Examples of quick in a Sentence

  1. that nasty comment cut me to the quick

First Known Use of quick

before 12th century

quick Synonyms

Synonyms
belly, blood, bone (s), bosom, breast, gut, heart, heartstrings, inner space, inside, core, soul
Related Words
conscience, mind
3

quick

adverb

Definition of quick

  1. :  in a quick manner

See quick defined for English-language learners

Examples of quick in a Sentence

  1. a scheme to get rich quick

  2. I got used to living with a roommate pretty quick.

  3. I can't run any quicker.

First Known Use of quick

14th century

quick Synonyms

Synonyms
apace, briskly, chop-chop, double-quick, fleetly, full tilt, hastily, hell-for-leather, hot, lickety-split, posthaste, presto, pronto, fast, quickly, rapidly, snappily, soon, speedily, swift, swiftly
Antonyms
slow, slowly
Related Words
immediately, promptly, readily; impetuously, impulsively, rashly, recklessly; abruptly, suddenly; energetically, vigorously
Near Antonyms
laggardly, lingeringly, ploddingly, sluggishly; deliberately, leisurely; belatedly, delinquently, tardily

QUICK Defined for English Language Learners

quick

play
adjective

Definition of quick for English Language Learners

  • : done or happening in a short amount of time

  • : fast in thinking, learning, or understanding

  • : fast in moving or reacting

quick

adverb

Definition of quick for English Language Learners

  • : in a fast or quick manner

QUICK Defined for Kids

1

quick

play
adjective \ˈkwik\

Definition of quick for Students

quicker

;

quickest

  1. 1 :  done or taking place in a very short period of time a quick look a quick nap

  2. 2 :  very swift :  speedy quick steps

  3. 3 :  fast in learning or understanding :  mentally alert a quick mind

  4. 4 :  easily stirred up a quick temper

quickly

adverb I ate quickly.

quickness

noun

History for quick

The word quick first meant “alive.” Most animals that are alive can move and run, so quick came to mean “moving” or “running.” From this sense came the sense of quick that is most familiar today: “fast.” New senses have come from this common sense. Quick can mean “alert,” which is “fast in understanding,” or “reacting fast.”

2

quick

play
noun

Definition of quick for Students

  1. 1 :  a very tender area of flesh (as under a fingernail)

  2. 2 :  someone's innermost feelings She was hurt to the quick by the remark.

3

quick

play
adverb

Definition of quick for Students

quicker

;

quickest

  1. :  in a quick manner :  fast Come quick!

Medical Dictionary

1

quick

play
adjective \ˈkwik\

Medical Definition of quick

  1. 1:  not dead :  living, alive

  2. 2:  pregnant

2

quick

noun

Medical Definition of quick

  1. 1quick plural :  living beings

  2. 2:  a painfully sensitive spot or area of flesh (as that underlying a fingernail)

Learn More about quick

  1. See words that rhyme with quick Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for quick Spanish Central: Translation of quick Nglish: Translation of quick for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of quick for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about quick

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up quick? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

crucible

play

a severe test

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. admiral's mast A massive search ends with an 'admiral's mast'.

  2. calumny 'An untrue statement that is made to damage someone's reputation'

  3. kakistocracy Frustrated Twitter users have been searching for this word.

  4. bona fide Made in good faith

  5. surrogate mother From TMZ to the dictionary.

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

quick

Test Your Vocabulary

The Emoji Quiz

  • emoji-the-quiz
  • What phase of the moon is this: 🌖 ?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

image386126722
Words and Phrases That Come from the Dinner Table

Fill your plate with these surprising food words

ghost-being-disinvited-from-party
'Disinvite' or 'Uninvite'?

A disinvited guest is an uninvited problem

alt-596f730ceb5ae
Words We're Watching: 'Scoby'

Kombucha lovers unite.

alt-596e1a928254c
Words We're Watching: 'Fidget Spinner'

Don't fight the fad

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

emoji-the-quiz
The Emoji Quiz

Think you’re an emoji 👓 expert? Let’s see 🤔

Take the quiz
image941935269
A Game of Thrones Word Quiz

In the Game of Thrones quiz, you learn some new vocabulary. (It’s quite safe, really. You will not die.)

Take the quiz
Spell It
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game
Examples: quick in a Sentence
Tip: Synonym Guide