quicken

verb

quick·​en ˈkwi-kən 

quickened; quickening ˈkwi-kə-niŋ 

ˈkwik-niŋ

transitive verb

1

a

: to make alive : revive

b

: to cause to be enlivened : stimulate

2

archaic

a

: kindle

b

: to cause to burn more intensely

3

: to make more rapid : hasten, accelerate

quickened her steps

4

a

: to make (a curve) sharper

b

: to make (a slope) steeper

intransitive verb

1

: to quicken something

2

: to come to life

especially : to enter into a phase of active growth and development

seeds quickening in the soil

3

: to reach the stage of gestation at which fetal motion is felt

4

: to shine more brightly

watched the dawn quickening in the east

5

: to become more rapid

her pulse quickened at the sight

quickener

ˈkwi-kə-nər 

ˈkwik-nər

noun

Synonyms

• accelerate
• bundle
• fast-track
• hasten
• hurry
• rush
• speed (up)
• whisk

Choose the Right Synonym for quicken

quicken, animate, enliven, vivify mean to make alive or lively.

quicken stresses a sudden renewal of life or activity especially in something inert.

the arrival of spring quickens the earth

animate emphasizes the imparting of motion or vitality to what is or might be mechanical or artificial.

happiness animated his conversation

enliven suggests a stimulus that arouses from dullness or torpidity.

enlivened her lectures with humorous anecdotes

vivify implies a freshening or energizing through renewal of vitality.

new blood needed to vivify the dying club

synonyms see in addition provoke

Examples of quicken in a Sentence

Stimulants can quicken the heart rate.

His pulse quickened at the thought of seeing her again.

The approach of the deadline quickened our sense of urgency.

The drama quickened when police arrived at the scene.

Recent Examples on the Web

The city’s pulse quickens as rooftop bars buzz with laughter and live music fills the air from intimate lounges. —Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 25 Oct. 2024

In a bid to rebuild fiscal credibility, Giorgetti quickened the timetable for that, pledging to bring shortfalls to below that ceiling by 2026 and to start reducing its mammoth debt a year later. —Kali Hays, Fortune Europe, 16 Oct. 2024

My goal with this guide is to give you a few options that can still quicken your pulse without upsetting your stomach. —Samantha Allen, Them, 15 Oct. 2024

Love is in the air on the Colorado plains — the kind that makes your heart beat a bit faster, quickens your step and makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. —Thomas Peipert, The Denver Post, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

quicken

verb

quick·​en ˈkwik-ən 

quickened; quickening -(ə-)niŋ 

1

a

: to make or become alive : revive

warm spring days that quickened the earth

b

: arouse sense 2, stimulate

curiosity quickened her interest

2

: to make or become quicker : hasten

quickened her steps

3

a

: to begin growth and development

seeds quickening in the soil

b

: to reach the stage of fetal growth at which motion is begun

Medical Definition

quicken

intransitive verb

quick·​en ˈkwik-ən 

quickened; quickening -(ə-)niŋ 

: to reach the stage of gestation at which fetal motion is felt