quickly

Meanings

1. 1adverbcomparable

   At high speed; with rapid movement or action.

   Grammar: Modifies verbs; the standard comparative is more quickly, though quicker is common informally.

   Patterns

   • move quickly
   • quickly became
   • as quickly as possible

   She walked quickly to catch the bus.

   The room quickly became crowded when the concert started.

2. 2adverbcomparable

   Without delay; promptly or soon.

   Grammar: Focuses on promptness rather than physical speed: reply quickly, quickly realized.

   Patterns

   • respond quickly
   • quickly realize
   • reply quickly

   The landlord responded quickly to our heating problem.

   I quickly realized I had boarded the wrong train.

Word forms

Common combinations

as quickly as possible

Please send the signed form as quickly as possible.

respond quickly

She responded quickly to my email about the schedule change.

quickly realize

We quickly realized the map was upside down.

quickly become

The small argument quickly became a serious disagreement.

Synonyms and how they differ

rapidly

Rapidly stresses speed of change or movement; quickly also covers promptness of response.

swiftly

Swiftly suggests smooth, efficient speed and sounds slightly literary.

promptly

Promptly means without delay and fits the sense of acting soon rather than fast.

fast

Fast works as adverb and adjective and is more informal; use quickly in careful writing.

Opposites

Word family

quick adjective

happening or moving fast; taking little time

quick adverb

fast, in informal use: come quick

quickness noun

the quality of being fast or prompt

quicken verb

to become faster or to make something faster

Commonly confused: quickly or fast?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “quickly”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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