quickly
48 synonyms and 1 antonym for quickly, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adv — Rapidly; at speed.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
briskly
in a hurry
apace
expeditiously
hurriedly
posthaste
quicksome
speedily
with dispatch
at the high port
balls-out
balls to the wall
cranking
flat out
full throttle
hauling ass
hell-for-leather
hell-bent for leather
lickety-split
like a bat out of hell
like a blue-arsed fly
like a dose of salts
like a rat up a drainpipe
like gangbusters
like the clappers
like there is no tomorrow
like the wind
before you can say Jack Robinson
in a flash
in a jiffy
in no time
in the twinkling of an eye
in two shakes
on the double
PDQ
pronto
quick as a flash
quick as a wink
on the pdq
toot sweet
Antonyms
Etymology
From Old English cwiculīċe, built on "quick" (meaning "lively" or "alive") plus the adverb ending "-ly."
Full origin of quickly →Frequently asked questions
What does “quickly” mean?
The word “quickly” means rapidly; at speed. In plain terms, in a fast manner, or without much delay.
How do you pronounce “quickly”?
“Quickly” is pronounced KWIHK-lee (/ˈkwɪkli/ in IPA).
How do you use “quickly” in a sentence?
Here is “quickly” used in a sentence: “He quickly gathered his things and left.”
What is another word for “quickly”?
Words with a similar meaning to “quickly” include apace, expeditiously, fast, hastily, hurriedly and posthaste.
What is the opposite of “quickly”?
The opposite of “quickly” — its antonyms — is slowly.
What part of speech is “quickly”?
“Quickly” is an adverb.
Where does the word “quickly” come from?
The word “quickly” comes from Old English. From Old English cwiculīċe, built on "quick" (meaning "lively" or "alive") plus the adverb ending "-ly.".
Is “quickly” a common word?
“Quickly” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between quickly and fast?
Both describe high speed, but they behave differently in grammar. Fast is mainly used to describe how something moves — 'he runs fast' — and can act as an adjective too. Quickly is an adverb describing an action's speed and often its promptness — 'she quickly replied.' Quickly can also suggest doing something soon, not just at speed.
What is the opposite of quickly?
The opposite of quickly is slowly — at a low speed or unhurried pace. Other opposites include gradually, which stresses something happening bit by bit, and leisurely, which suggests a relaxed, unhurried manner. Where quickly implies speed and urgency, these words point to taking one's time.
What is an example of quickly in a sentence?
You might say, 'She quickly grabbed her coat and left,' showing the action was done at speed. Other examples include 'the news spread quickly' or 'please reply quickly.' In each, quickly tells you the pace of the action — how fast, or how promptly, it was carried out.
