quickly
KWIHK-lee
Quickly (adv) means Rapidly; at speed. Example: “The soup cooled quickly in the cold kitchen.”
adv
1
Rapidly; at speed.
"The soup cooled quickly in the cold kitchen."
"He quickly gathered his things and left."
"The situation changed quickly once the news broke."
2
Very soon; without delay.
"Come quickly, because the bus is about to leave!"
"Ring me back quickly, as I need an answer before lunch."
"Please reply as quickly as you can."
How to use quickly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishIn a fast manner, or without much delay.
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Word forms
- Comparative
- quicklier, more quickly
- Superlative
- quickliest, most quickly
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The soup cooled _____ in the cold kitchen.
Etymology
From Old English cwiculīċe, built on "quick" (meaning "lively" or "alive") plus the adverb ending "-ly."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for quickly
See all rhymes for 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.
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