# quick

/ˈkwɪk/ (US) · /kwˈɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/quick
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. moving fast

adjective · CEFR A1

moving with high speed or able to move very fast.

For teachers: characterised by rapid motion; capable of moving at high velocity.

- The cat was too quick for the dog and climbed up the tree.
- The athlete's quick reflexes allowed him to avoid the collision during the final sprint of the race.

### 2. short duration

adjective · CEFR A1

happening or finished in a very short time.

For teachers: occurring or completed within a brief interval of time.

- I just need a quick shower before we go out for dinner.
- The manager gave a quick overview of the new policy before opening the floor for specific questions.

### 3. mentally agile

adjective · CEFR B1

able to learn, understand, or think very fast.

For teachers: demonstrating mental agility, alertness, or the ability to respond rapidly to new information.

- She is a quick learner and mastered the software in just one afternoon.
- His quick wit made him a formidable debater, as he could identify logical fallacies almost instantly.

### 6. the living

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

people who are alive, usually compared to those who have died.

For teachers: a collective reference to living beings, most commonly encountered in the fixed phrase 'the quick and the dead'.

- The old prayer spoke of a judgment for the quick and the dead.
- The poet explored the thin veil between the quick and the dead, suggesting that memory keeps the departed among us.

### 7. easily angered

adjective · CEFR B2

becoming angry very easily and suddenly.

For teachers: prone to sudden outbursts of temper; easily provoked to irritation.

- You have to be careful what you say because he has a quick temper.
- Her quick temper often led to regrettable arguments that she would later have to apologise for.

## Examples

- She gave a quick answer to the question.
- The chef prepared a quick meal for the guests who arrived late for dinner.
- The athlete's quick reflexes allowed him to avoid the collision, demonstrating the physical coordination required for professional competition.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.