Quickly: meaning, definitions and examples

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quickly

 

[ ˈkwɪkli ]

Adverb / Adjective
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adverb

in a fast manner

At a high rate of speed; rapidly; swiftly.

Synonyms

promptly, rapidly, speedily, swiftly.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
quickly

General situations requiring fast action or movement, without focusing on professionalism or immediacy.

  • She quickly finished her homework
  • He ran quickly to catch the bus
rapidly

Situations emphasizing high speed, often referring to processes, growth, or changes over a period.

  • Technology has rapidly advanced in the last decade
  • The company's sales figures are increasing rapidly
swiftly

Describing movement or action that is very fast and smooth, often in literary or descriptive contexts.

  • She moved swiftly across the dance floor
  • The decision was made swiftly and without delay
speedily

Emphasizing efficiency and often associated with tasks or actions that need to be completed fast, sometimes in a formal context.

  • The customer service team resolved the issues speedily
  • He completed the project speedily
promptly

Formal or professional settings where immediate action is required or highly valued.

  • The manager responded promptly to the client's concerns
  • We need to leave promptly at 8 AM

Examples of usage

  • She quickly finished her homework before going out with her friends.
  • He quickly ran to catch the bus before it left.
Context #2 | Adjective

done with speed

Moving fast or doing something in a short amount of time.

Synonyms

fast, hasty, rapid, speedy.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
quickly

Used to describe something done in a short amount of time. It can refer to both physical actions and changes or processes. It is neutral in tone.

  • She finished her homework quickly
  • The new policy was implemented quickly
speedy

Suggests high speed and efficiency in completing a task. It is slightly less formal than 'rapid' and can be used in both personal and professional contexts.

  • We need to find a speedy solution to this problem
  • The delivery was very speedy
fast

Commonly used to describe speed. It is often associated with physical movement and performance, such as running, driving, or technology. It is neutral but can be more emphatic than 'quickly'.

  • He runs very fast
  • This computer processes data fast
rapid

Describes something happening or moving very quickly, often used in more formal or technical contexts. It can refer to growth, development, or motion.

  • The patient's condition showed rapid improvement
  • The company is experiencing rapid growth
hasty

Implies something done with excessive speed, often without sufficient care or thought. It carries a negative connotation.

  • His hasty decision led to many problems
  • Don't be hasty, think it through

Examples of usage

  • The quickly approaching storm forced everyone to seek shelter.
  • She gave a quickly prepared speech at the event.

Translations

Translations of the word "quickly" in other languages:

🇵🇹 rapidamente

🇮🇳 तेज़ी से

🇩🇪 schnell

🇮🇩 dengan cepat

🇺🇦 швидко

🇵🇱 szybko

🇯🇵 速く (hayaku)

🇫🇷 rapidement

🇪🇸 rápidamente

🇹🇷 hızlıca

🇰🇷 빨리 (ppalli)

🇸🇦 بسرعة (bisurʿa)

🇨🇿 rychle

🇸🇰 rýchlo

🇨🇳 迅速地 (xùnsù de)

🇸🇮 hitro

🇮🇸 hratt

🇰🇿 жылдам

🇬🇪 სწრაფად (sts'rapad)

🇦🇿 tez

🇲🇽 rápidamente

Etymology

The word 'quickly' originated from the Old English word 'cwiclice', which means 'lively' or 'vigorously'. Over time, the meaning evolved to represent speed and swiftness. The adverb 'quickly' has been used in the English language for centuries to describe actions done with speed or in a fast manner.

See also: quick, quicken, quickening, quickness, quicksand.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #1,204, this word is part of core intermediate vocabulary. It appears regularly in various contexts and is essential for natural-sounding English.