quick 1 of 3

adjective

ˈkwik How to pronounce quick (audio)
Definition of quicknext
1
as in swift
having or showing the ability to respond without delay or hesitation she's a quick wit, always ready with a pun or joke when the moment calls for one

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fast
having or showing quickness of mind a quick lad, he immediately caught on to how the machinery operated

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed a quick run through the car wash, and your vehicle will look as good as new

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in breathing
having or showing life after the battle, there was a hurried accounting of the quick and the dead

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in keen
able to sense slight impressions or differences parlayed her quick eye for beauty into ownership of a top modeling agency

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in gone
archaic containing unborn young within the body a woman quick with child

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

quick

2 of 3

adverb

as in quickly
with great speed watch out, as the cars pass by here pretty quick

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

quick

3 of 3

noun

as in heart
the seat of one's deepest thoughts and emotions that nasty comment cut me to the quick

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective quick contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of quick are apt, prompt, and ready. While all these words 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

When is apt a more appropriate choice than quick?

The words apt and quick can be used in similar contexts, but 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

Where would prompt be a reasonable alternative to quick?

While the synonyms prompt and quick are close in meaning, prompt is more likely to connote training and discipline that fits one for instant response.

prompt emergency medical care

When is it sensible to use ready instead of quick?

The meanings of ready and quick largely overlap; however, ready suggests facility or fluency in response.

backed by a pair of ready assistants

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of quick
Adjective
Easy breakfast ideas for busy mornings Getting something in your stomach before an early class is rough after a late night, so quick breakfast options are the backbone of eating well in a dorm. — Lauren Schuster, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026 Scarlett Johansson, Adam Driver and Miles Teller lead James Gray’s drama, which follows two brothers, Irwin and Gary Pearl, in 1986 whose get-rich-quick scheme to help clean up the Gowanus Canal lands them in the crosshairs of the Russian mafia. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
Adverb
The technology was advancing far quicker than institutions could absorb it. — Chang Che, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2026 Pennsylvania State Police makes that possible quicker than most police departments. — Josh Taylor, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026
Noun
As one of the marquee burners in the talent-rich fields of Los Angeles, Ross has Power 4 quicks — Notre Dame, Washington and Auburn were among the blue-blood offers — on a mid-major frame (5-foot-10, 180 pounds). — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025 The 34-year-old won’t evade defenders with his quicks but repeatedly beats coverage off the first move and wins in traffic. — Ben Standig, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for quick
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quick
  1. swift
  2. fast
  3. rapid
  4. alive
  5. keen
  6. gone
  7. quickly
  8. heart
Adjective
  • The turmoil from Moore’s Michigan conduct continues to linger, 10 months later, but the process of clearing out his office in Schembechler Hall went remarkably swift.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The comments drew swift condemnation from California leaders, even as the White House communications director, Steven Cheung, insisted the president’s remarks had been taken out of context.
    — Ana Ceballos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of swift
Adjective
  • The service As elsewhere in Bahia, service is warm and friendly—albeit not quite as fast and efficient as city-dwellers may expect.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The models have become much more capable; the pace of improvement from model to model is faster; and the stakes are much higher.
    — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of fast
Adjective
  • The National Weather Service said rainfall was diminishing in the area but that rapid river rises and flooding remained possible.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The National Weather Service said rainfall was diminishing in the area but rapid river rises and flooding remained possible.
    — Sophie Bates, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of rapid
Adjective
  • Again and again, Misty comes fully alive in the presence of others—a saving grace in a town that still often runs on chance meetings, fateful reunions, and testy but resilient relationships.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2026
  • In a normal year, most MLB teams would already be looking toward next year at this point in the season, as only a few teams remain alive.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of alive
Adjective
  • Related Stories Of course, the Kings have long had a keen eye for distilling and (just barely) heightening the absurdities of modern life.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Even Daniel, who is quiet but a keen listener, interjects when necessary.
    — Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of keen
Adjective
  • Suddenly, photos, videos, or important documents are just… gone.
    — StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 15 May 2026
  • Room by room, the author takes us through the house, now long gone.
    — Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2026
Definition of gone
Adverb
  • Therefore, additional heavy rain may quickly create new areas of flooding and cause previous areas of flooding to redevelop.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2026
  • One short clip that quickly circulated on social media showed Stamos urging Love to do some hand gestures from his seat, and the Beach Boys’ mainstay gamely complying, but without much apparent energy, before going back to sitting in place.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of quickly
Noun
  • The story follows a celebrated pediatric heart surgeon whose daughter falls prey to a vengeful ghost.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The nine suites sell out far in advance, especially if there's a popular event in the city, so book well ahead if your heart is set on staying here.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of heart

Browse Nearby Words

quibbling
quick
quicken
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Cite this Entry

“Quick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quick. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about quick

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