quicken
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
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to become more active, sensitive, etc..
This drug causes the pulse to quicken.
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to become alive; receive life.
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(of the mother) to enter that stage of pregnancy in which the fetus gives indications of life.
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(of a fetus in the womb) to begin to manifest signs of life.
verb
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to make or become faster; accelerate
he quickened his walk
her heartbeat quickened with excitement
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to impart to or receive vigour, enthusiasm, etc; stimulate or be stimulated
science quickens man's imagination
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to make or become alive; revive
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(of an unborn fetus) to begin to show signs of life
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(of a pregnant woman) to reach the stage of pregnancy at which movements of the fetus can be felt
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has quickenedperfect 3rd person singular
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have quickenedperfect
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have been quickeningperfect progressive
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has been quickeningperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is quickeningprogressive 3rd person singular
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quickeningparticiple
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quickenssingular 3rd person
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are quickeningprogressive
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am quickeningprogressive 1st person singular
Past
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had quickenedperfect
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had been quickeningperfect progressive
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quickenedparticiple
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was quickeningprogressive singular
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quickenedsimple
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were quickeningprogressive plural
Future
Etymology
Origin of quicken
First recorded in 1250–1300, quicken is from the Middle English word quikenen. See quick, -en 1
Explanation
When things quicken, they speed up or make something go faster. If you're late for school, you should probably quicken your pace. Your heartbeat probably quickens when you're afraid or after you've been running fast, and you could also say that your curiosity quickens (or increases) when you overhear a mysterious phone call. The oldest meaning of quicken, however, is "come to life," a definition which sounds very old fashioned now, but which was once used to describe an advanced stage of pregnancy: "The fetus began to quicken."
Vocabulary lists containing quicken
Scrabble: Words that Begin with Q
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Tolkien Reading Day, List 9
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"What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" Vocabulary from the speech
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If the World Cup helps quicken the pace of moves to de-escalate, there could be a material impact on energy prices, supplies and the world economy.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
Economists had been expecting the pace of inflation to quicken to 2.6%.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026
Inflation data are already showing elevated price pressures in the world’s biggest economy, and surging oil prices will only quicken the pace over the coming months.
From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026
The reopening has begun, and this should quicken the pace for a potential December rate cut, which is now seen as essentially a 50-50 tossup according to the FedWatch tool provided by CME.
From MarketWatch • Nov. 14, 2025
But everything about him—his sense of command, a confidence that betrays how often he comes here, the fact that there is nothing, nothing I can read about him—makes my heartbeat quicken.
From "Warcross" by Marie Lu
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
