quicken

[ kwik-uhn ]

/ ˈkwɪk ən /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR quicken ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to make more rapid; accelerate; hasten: She quickened her pace.

to give or restore vigor or activity to; stir up, rouse, or stimulate: to quicken the imagination.

to revive; restore life to: The spring rains quickened the earth.

verb (used without object)

to become more active, sensitive, etc.: This drug causes the pulse to quicken.

to become alive; receive life.

(of the mother) to enter that stage of pregnancy in which the fetus gives indications of life.

(of a fetus in the womb) to begin to manifest signs of life.

Origin of quicken

First recorded in 1250–1300, quicken is from the Middle English word quikenen. See quick, -en¹

SYNONYMS FOR quicken

2 animate, vitalize, enliven.

3 vivify.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR quicken ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM quicken

quick·en·er, noun re·quick·en, verb un·quick·ened, adjective

Words nearby quicken

quick-fire, quick-freeze, quick-setting, quick-tempered, quick-witted, quicken, quickening, quicker than you can say jack robinson, quickhatch, quickie, quicklime

Example sentences from the Web for quickening

I shifted and put the casing in my pocket, and when I did, I felt a quickening from my stomach to my jaw.

I Shot Bin Laden |Elliot Ackerman |November 16, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Josh Rogin and Eli Lake report on Obama's quickening war campaign.

McCain: Obama to Send New Arms to Syrian Rebels |Josh Rogin, Eli Lake |September 3, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
"Quickening" introduces the second room of the exhibit and features a diptych of pregnant women, their faces also ravaged by time.

A Woman in Full |Chloe Malle |February 18, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
This, after some pondering, I concluded to represent Pygmalion, as he awaited the quickening of his statue.

Phantastes |George MacDonald

Quickening their own pace, they soon overtook the boy, who saluted them as they passed, in respect for their seeming age.

The Circassian Chief |W.H.G. Kingston
Quickening his step, he marched some yards in advance of his company.

Shirley |Charlotte Bront
Indeed, he had small time to ponder, for his comrade was quickening his steps, and he had to hasten to reach his side.

Tom Tufton's Travels |Evelyn Everett-Green
He scurried here and there, as need required, gathering force like a machine under the quickening beat of the controlling engine.

The Lash |Olin L. Lyman

British Dictionary definitions for quickening

quicken

/ (ˈkwɪkən) /

verb

to make or become faster; accelerate he quickened his walk; her heartbeat quickened with excitement

to impart to or receive vigour, enthusiasm, etc; stimulate or be stimulated science quickens man's imagination

to make or become alive; revive

(of an unborn fetus) to begin to show signs of life
(of a pregnant woman) to reach the stage of pregnancy at which movements of the fetus can be felt

Medical definitions for quickening (1 of 2)

quickening

[ kwĭk′ə-nĭng ]

n.

The initial signs of fetal life felt by the mother as a result of fetal movement.

Medical definitions for quickening (2 of 2)

quicken

[ kwĭk′ən ]

v.

To reach the stage of pregnancy when the fetus can be felt to move.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

quicken

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of quicken

SYNONYMS FOR quicken

OTHER WORDS FROM quicken

Words nearby quicken

Example sentences from the Web for quickening

British Dictionary definitions for quickening

verb

Medical definitions for quickening (1 of 2)

n.

Medical definitions for quickening (2 of 2)

v.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

quicken

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of quicken

SYNONYMS FOR quicken

OTHER WORDS FROM quicken

Words nearby quicken

Words related to quickening

Example sentences from the Web for quickening

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for quickening

verb

Medical definitions for quickening (1 of 2)

n.

Medical definitions for quickening (2 of 2)

v.

British Dictionary definitions for quickening