quick 1 of 3

1
2
as in fast
having or showing quickness of mind a quick lad, he immediately caught on to how the machinery operated

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
4
5
6

quick

2 of 3

adverb

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

Examples 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
The cast members were quick to throw each other under the bus, so to say. Dennis Romero, NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024 Snagging a deal on Woot is about being quick, as these deals don't stick for long, disappearing as soon as stock runs out (which is usually pretty quick). Gabriela Vatu, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Adverb
The Nissan doesn't feel fast on the road, but the CVT does make initial takeoff quicker than expected. Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 So the innovation and technology advancement is more quicker in a modern world. Jennifer Maas, Variety, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
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 See all Example Sentences for quick 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quick
Adjective
  • Desperate for answers on what went wrong on Election Day, finger-pointing among Democrats and media pundits has been swift.
    Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
  • The choice to stay on the sidelines was met with some swift backlash from both internal and external figures.
    Chloe Berger, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Last week, bond yields surged on expectations that President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to lower tax rates, increase tariffs and reduce regulation could ultimately lead to higher U.S. government debt and inflation, along with faster economic growth.
    Alex Veiga, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
  • The Food and Drug Administration said in an update that the number of people sickened by the fast food bacteria outbreak has climbed from 90 to 104.
    Melvin Backman, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The rapid adoption of renewable diesel produced a glut of credits, which reduced the incentives under the program, experts told Bay Area News Group.
    Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
  • Axon acknowledges the potential risks associated with its reliance on law enforcement agencies for a significant portion of its revenue, as well as the challenges posed by rapid technological changes and new competing products.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Ryan is keen to make clear that his firm is unlike the dozens of already existing ones.
    Vitas Carosella, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Another region in Moldova’s south, Gagauzia, is also keen to build closer ties with Moscow.
    Clare Sebastian, CNN, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The original pioneers were mostly busy making non-hyperpop or gone: SOPHIE tragically died in 2021; 100 gecs spent years toiling to make their zany stadium-rock second album.
    Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 3 Oct. 2024
  • People have found out in the process — some who’ve gone virtual — their attendance has gone way up.
    Peggy O’Hare, ExpressNews.com, 7 May 2020
Noun
  • In today’s deal, North’s leap to four hearts is preemptive, and West doubles that outrage with his 23 high-card points.
    Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
  • Scherzinger wrote alongside a prayer emoji and a heart emoji.
    Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The Biden administration was working on things to incentivize innovation, giving money to people willing to take on zoning challenges.
    Kim Velsey, Curbed, 11 Nov. 2024
  • This time, President-elect Donald Trump knows a lot more about how to manipulate the levers of power and plans to surround himself with loyalists willing to do his bidding in making sweeping changes to both policies and processes.
    Carl Leubsdorf, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Other clever design touches are everywhere, from plastic guyline clips made from a material that won’t crack even in temperatures as low as negative 60 Fahrenheit, to wraparound snowflaps that enable you to set the tent up without stakes in deep snow.
    Wes Siler, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Much in demand for her joyful fashion prints and clever sense of color, Birtwell’s talent has always been her ability to mix vibrant prints of different scales, freely weaving childlike splashy daisies with more geometric abstract squiggles in exuberant colorways.
    Emma Baxter-Wright, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near quick

Cite this Entry

“Quick.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quick. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on quick

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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