Quick

/kwɪk/

adjectiveBeginner🔥Very CommonGeneral
4 meanings4 idioms/phrases5 questions

Definitions

4 meanings
1

Moving or capable of moving at high speed; done or occurring in a short time.

/kwɪk/

adjectiveneutralBeginner
General

Moving or capable of moving at high speed; fast.

The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

💡 Simply: It's like when you zoom somewhere fast! Imagine you're playing tag, and you're quick to catch someone.

👶 For kids: Like when you run super fast!

More Examples

2

She made a quick decision.

3

The quick pace of the city was overwhelming.

How It's Used

General

"A quick run to the store."

Sports

"He made a quick pass to his teammate."

2

Done or happening rapidly; taking or lasting a short time.

/kwɪk/

adjectiveneutralmedium
General

Characterized by speed; rapid.

I took a quick shower.

💡 Simply: When something happens fast or takes a short time, that's quick. Like a quick snack before a game.

👶 For kids: When something doesn't take very long.

More Examples

2

She's a quick thinker.

3

The quick transaction was efficient.

How It's Used

Time Management

"A quick break to recharge."

Learning

"She was a quick learner."

Tip:Picture a stopwatch ticking fast.
3

Mentally alert and active; intelligent.

/kwɪk/

adjectivepositivemedium
General

Mentally sharp; intelligent.

He is a quick learner.

💡 Simply: If someone is quick, it means they understand and figure things out easily. Like solving a riddle quickly!

👶 For kids: If you learn things fast!

More Examples

2

She has a quick mind.

3

His quick thinking saved the day.

How It's Used

Intellectual

"A quick mind is an asset in any field."

Problem-Solving

"He has a quick wit."

Tip:Imagine a mind that can solve puzzles easily.
4

Rapidly or in a short time.

/kwɪkli/

adverbneutralmedium
General

In a quick manner; rapidly.

She quickly finished her homework.

💡 Simply: Doing something in a fast way! Like, 'I quickly ate my lunch.'

👶 For kids: When you do something very fast!

More Examples

2

The rescue team acted quickly.

3

The car sped quickly down the road.

How It's Used

Action

"He reacted quickly to the situation."

Communication

"The message was communicated quickly."

Tip:Imagine the word 'quickly' in action.

Idioms & expressions

quick as a flash

Very quickly.

"He turned around quick as a flash and saw her."

the quick and the dead

All living people and the deceased.

"The story concerns both the quick and the dead."

quick fix

A fast and easy solution to a problem.

"The team proposed a quick fix to address the immediate issue."

be quick off the mark

To be fast to respond or act.

"He was quick off the mark to grab the opportunity."

From Old English *cwic* ('alive, living'), related to Proto-Germanic *kwikwaz*, from Proto-Indo-European *gʷih₃wós* ('alive, living').

Originally denoted 'alive' or 'living', evolving to mean speed and rapid action in later centuries.

Memory tip

Think of a cheetah, known for its quick speed.

Word Origin

LanguageOld English
Original meaning

"alive, living"

quick decisionquick glancequick studyquick witquick responsequick learner

Common misspellings

quik

Usage

70%Spoken
30%Written