Antonyms for quick


Grammar : Adj
Spell : kwik
Phonetic Transcription : kwɪk


Definition of quick

Origin :
  • Old English cwic "living, alive, animate," and figuratively, of mental qualities, "rapid, ready," from Proto-Germanic *kwikwaz (cf. Old Saxon and Old Frisian quik, Old Norse kvikr "living, alive," Dutch kwik "lively, bright, sprightly," Old High German quec "lively," German keck "bold"), from PIE root *gweie- "to live" (see bio-). Sense of "lively, swift" developed by late 12c., on notion of "full of life."
  • NE swift or the now more common fast may apply to rapid motion of any duration, while in quick (in accordance with its original sense of 'live, lively') there is a notion of 'sudden' or 'soon over.' We speak of a fast horse or runner in a race, a quick starter but not a quick horse. A somewhat similar feeling may distinguish NHG schnell and rasch or it may be more a matter of local preference. [Buck]
  • Of persons, "mentally active," from late 15c. Also in Middle English used of soft soils, gravel pits, etc. where the ground is shifting and yielding (mid-14c., cf. quicksand). As an adverb from c.1300. To be quick about something is from 1937. Quick buck is from 1946, American English. Quick-change artist (1886) originally was an actor expert in playing different roles in the same performance of a show. Quick-witted is from 1520s.
  • adj fast, speedy
  • adj smart
Example sentences :
  • Obeying a quick impulse, Percival stepped to the curb as she came opposite to him.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • Hipparete blushed, and with a quick and nervous motion touched her cithara.
  • Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
  • Suddenly Eucoline touched my arm with a quick and timid motion.
  • Extract from : « Philothea » by Lydia Maria Child
  • He's not so large or tall, but quick and springy, and muscled like a panther.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • He took two quick steps forward and grasped one of her wrists.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • "Don't come this way," she called back, in quick, low tones of caution.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • "That's right," said Billy Brue, with the quick sympathy of the experienced.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • But how wonderful and quick my touch has got, and how kind is heaven there, sir!
  • Extract from : « Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. 327 » by Various
  • The action is as quick as thought, and thought is as quick as lightning.
  • Extract from : « The Conquest of Fear » by Basil King
  • She had some things to trouble her, but none of them had touched the quick of her being.
  • Extract from : « Weighed and Wanting » by George MacDonald

Synonyms for quick

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019