quick

1 of 3

adjective

ˈkwik

: 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

: marked by speed, readiness, or promptness of physical movement

walked with quick steps

: inclined to hastiness (as in action or response)

quick to criticize

: capable of being easily and speedily prepared

a quick and tasty dinner

: having a sharp angle

a quick turn in the road

: not dead : living, alive

: moving, shifting

quick mud

archaic : not stagnant : running, flowing

archaic : fiery, glowing

archaic : pregnant

obsolete

: pungent

: caustic

quickly adverb

quickness noun

quick

2 of 3

noun

[probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse kvika sensitive flesh, from kvikr living]

: a painfully sensitive spot or area of flesh (such as that underlying a fingernail or toenail)

: the inmost sensibilities

hurt to the quick by the remark

: the very center of something : heart

quick plural : living beings

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

Example Sentences

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

The event, which took a few years off during World War II, had obviously evolved, Ramcharan was quick to point out.

Sarah Maslin Nir, New York Times, 24 Nov. 2022 But outsiders were quick to point out flaws in that statement.

Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 21 Nov. 2022 But Garcia, a U.S. Navy veteran who grew up in Washington state, is quick to point out the personal touches, too.

oregonlive, 20 Nov. 2022 Crypto optimists might be quick to point out that Lehman didn’t take all of Wall Street down with it.

Allison Morrow, CNN, 18 Nov. 2022 Alagband, Hart and other creators are quick to point out that the effect on their livelihoods is nothing compared to the oppression and violence faced by Iranian women.

Ginger Gentile, Forbes, 10 Nov. 2022 Seyfried wore a black runway stunner from Kors’ latest collection, along with deep red lipstick—but a much cooler, more balanced shade than Elizabeth Holmes' red lipstick, the recent Emmy winner was quick to point out.

Faran Krentcil, ELLE, 8 Nov. 2022 When asked what the key is to marketing to Gen Z, D’Amelio was quick to point out that this generation of teenagers is drawn to authenticity.

Lucy Brewster, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2022 The Arizona Democratic Party was also quick to point the finger at Lake.

Libby Cathey, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2022

Adverb

Popular opinion lags a bit: Many people still believe cryptocurrency is a giant, global get-rich-quick scheme.

Boaz Sobrado, Wired, 19 Dec. 2021 Between reality television shows about the practice to infomercials promoting it as a get-rich-quick scheme, nearly everyone is familiar with the concept of buying, renovating and quickly reselling real estate at a profit.

Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2021 Like all investments, it’s not some get-rich-quick scheme or infinite cash cow.

Michael Mcmullen, Forbes, 31 Aug. 2021 As Barge 129 began to take on water, the vessel’s quick-thinking captain, Josiah Bailey, gathered his crew and launched the lifeboat.

Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Oct. 2022 That metamorphosis paid off, giving those quick-thinking firms a leg up in Forbes’ 2023 ranking of America’s Best Insurance Companies.

Laura Smythe, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2022 During the second game of the doubleheader between New York Yankees and Texas Rangers on Tuesday, as Judge blasted his way into the history books, cameras caught a quick-thinking fan make the catch.

Christopher Brito, CBS News, 5 Oct. 2022 The ever-pragmatic Selsky, momentarily wrong-footed by Irina’s rally speech calling for the boy’s release, manages a horrifying but impressively quick-thinking onstage pivot to broader, more toxic fearmongering and anti-Roma sentiment.

Jessica Kiang, Variety, 10 Sep. 2022 Since shrimp is such a quick-cooking protein, an air fryer creates nice crispiness on the outside without overcooking.

Magdalena O'neal, Sunset Magazine, 15 Feb. 2022

Noun

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 Nothing this quick comes any cheaper-except GMC's Syclone pickup.

Arthur St. Antoine, Car and Driver, 19 May 2020 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'quick.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.