# quicken

/ˈkwɪkən/ (US) · /kwˈɪkən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/quicken
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

to make something move faster or to make a feeling or a process happen more quickly.

For teachers: to accelerate the speed of movement, action, or a physiological process. Often used in nautical contexts to describe the act of trimming sails to increase a vessel's speed.

## Examples

- The wind began to quicken as the storm approached.
- The helmsman ordered the crew to quicken the sails to escape the heavy fog.
- As the sun dipped below the horizon, the crew worked to quicken the pace of their preparations, knowing that the tide would soon shift against them.

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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.