Definition

Noun 1. The quality or state of being fast; rapidity of movement or action. It refers to a high rate of speed. 2. The ability to think, understand, or react with speed and intelligence. It implies mental agility and the capacity to respond correctly without delay. 3. Skillful and effortless performance or ability. It denotes adeptness or facility in executing a task.

Usage and Examples

• Rapidity of Action:
  • The quickness of his reflexes saved him from the falling object.
  • She completed the task with surprising quickness.
• Mental Agility:
  • His quickness of mind allowed him to solve the puzzle instantly.
  • The student's quickness in grasping new concepts impressed the teacher.
• Skillful Facility:
  • The pianist played the complex piece with remarkable quickness and precision.
  • Her quickness with numbers made her an excellent accountant.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Quickness of temper": A propensity to become angry rapidly or easily.
  • He is a good manager, but his quickness of temper is well-known among the staff.
• "Quickness of eye/ear": Keen, sharp, or rapid perception using sight or hearing.
  • A hunter must have quickness of eye to spot movement in the forest.

Variants and Related Words

• Quick (adjective): Moving fast or doing something in a short time; mentally agile.
  • a quick runner; a quick decision
• Quickly (adverb): At a fast speed; without delay.
  • She ran quickly to catch the bus.
• Quicken (verb): To make or become faster or more active.
  • The pace of the music quickened.

Synonyms

• Speed, swiftness, rapidity (for physical or action-based speed).
• Alertness, sharpness, acuteness (for mental speed).
• Dexterity, adeptness, facility, nimbleness (for skillful performance).

Antonyms

• Slowness, sluggishness, delay (for speed).
• Dullness, obtuseness (for mental agility).
• Clumsiness, awkwardness (for skillful performance).

Idioms and Phrases

• "With lightning quickness": Extremely fast; with the speed of lightning.
  • The goalkeeper reacted with lightning quickness to block the shot.
• "Quicker than a wink": Happening almost instantaneously.
  • The magician made the coin disappear, quicker than a wink.

Noun

1. a rate that is rapid
2. intelligence as revealed by an ability to give correct responses without delay
3. skillful performance or ability without difficulty
   • his quick adeptness was a product of good design
   • he was famous for his facility as an archer