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
6
archaic
: pregnant
quickly
adverb
quickness
noun
: in a quick manner
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
Synonyms
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
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Recent Examples on the Web
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
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
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
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
Phrases Containing quick
Articles Related to quick
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.
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Kids Definition
quick
1 of 2 adjective2
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 noun1
: 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
More from Merriam-Webster on quick
Nglish: Translation of quick for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of quick for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about quick
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