A synonym for quickly is a word that means the same thing, like rapidly, swiftly, speedily, promptly, or fast. These words describe doing something in a short time. For example, “She finished her homework quickly” can also be “She finished her homework rapidly.” Pick the one that fits your sentence best.
Maya stared at her screen. Her essay used the word “quickly” five times in one paragraph. It sounded flat and boring, and she knew it. She sighed and wished for a better way. Then she swapped in swiftly, promptly, and in no time. Suddenly, her writing felt fresh and alive.
“Brevity is the soul of wit.” 65 William Shakespeare
That small change shows why synonyms for quickly matter. Take this line: “The bus left quickly.” Now try “The bus left in a flash.” See the difference? It adds picture and energy. Here is how these words help you:
- Students: Make essays and answers sound smarter.
- Bloggers: Keep readers hooked with fresh, lively words.
- Content writers: Avoid repeating the same word again and again.
- Daily English users: Speak with more confidence and variety.
In this guide, you will find 65 easy synonyms, with simple meanings and short examples you can copy right away. Let’s begin!
“Vigorous writing is concise.” 65 William Strunk Jr.
65 Quickly Synonym
1. Rapidly
- Meaning: Done at a high speed, covering ground or tasks in little time.
- Examples: The river rose rapidly after the storm. She typed rapidly to finish the report.
2. Swiftly
- Meaning: Moving or acting with smooth, fast motion that feels graceful.
- Examples: The eagle swooped swiftly toward the lake. He swiftly closed the door behind him.
3. Speedily
- Meaning: Done in a way that gets results without wasting any time.
- Examples: The team speedily fixed the broken website. Please reply speedily so we can proceed.
4. Promptly
- Meaning: Done right on time or soon after something is asked.
- Examples: The doctor promptly answered my urgent message. Please arrive promptly at nine o’clock sharp.
5. Hastily
- Meaning: Done in a rush, often without enough care or thought.
- Examples: He hastily packed his bag and left. I hastily wrote the note before class.
6. Hurriedly
- Meaning: Done with great haste because time is short or pressing.
- Examples: She hurriedly grabbed her coat and ran out. They hurriedly cleaned the room before guests arrived.
7. Briskly
- Meaning: Done with lots of energy and a quick, lively pace.
- Examples: We walked briskly through the cold morning air. He briskly stirred the soup on the stove.
8. Expeditiously
- Meaning: Done in a smooth, fast way that saves time and effort.
- Examples: The clerk expeditiously processed every form in line. We must handle this complaint expeditiously, please.
9. Immediately
- Meaning: Done at this very moment, with no wait at all.
- Examples: Call me immediately if anything goes wrong. She left immediately after the phone rang.
10. Instantly
- Meaning: Happening in a split second, with no delay you can notice.
- Examples: The lights went out instantly during the storm. He instantly knew the answer was wrong.
11. Instantaneously
- Meaning: Happening at the exact same moment, with zero time passing.
- Examples: The message reached her phone instantaneously. Light seems to travel instantaneously to our eyes.
12. At once
- Meaning: Right now, without waiting or stopping to do anything else.
- Examples: Come to the office at once, please. The kids all stopped talking at once.
13. Right away
- Meaning: Done without waiting, as soon as the request is heard.
- Examples: I will start the laundry right away. The waiter brought our drinks right away.
14. In a flash
- Meaning: Very quickly, as fast as a sudden burst of light.
- Examples: The cat was gone in a flash. Summer vacation passed in a flash this year.
15. In no time
- Meaning: Taking only a tiny amount of time to finish something.
- Examples: We will be home in no time. He solved the puzzle in no time.
16. Pronto
- Meaning: A casual, playful word that means right now and very fast.
- Examples: Grab your shoes and get in the car, pronto! I need that file on my desk pronto.
17. Posthaste
- Meaning: An old-fashioned word that means with great speed and urgency.
- Examples: The messenger rode posthaste to the castle. She sent the news posthaste to her family.
18. Apace
- Meaning: At a fast pace, often used for steady, ongoing progress.
- Examples: Work on the new bridge is moving apace. Her garden grew apace during the rainy season.
19. Lickety-split
- Meaning: A fun, informal way to say very fast and without delay.
- Examples: The puppy ran lickety-split down the long hallway. We finished dinner lickety-split and went outside.
20. Fast
- Meaning: The simplest word for doing something at a high speed.
- Examples: Please drive fast, we are running late. My little brother learns new words really fast.
21. Directly
- Meaning: Straight away, without stopping or taking any detours on the way.
- Examples: Please come directly home after school today. He went directly to the manager’s office.
22. Abruptly
- Meaning: Happening in a sudden, fast way, with no warning at all.
- Examples: The music stopped abruptly in the middle. He abruptly stood up and left the room.
23. Suddenly
- Meaning: Happening quickly and unexpectedly, which often surprises the people nearby.
- Examples: It suddenly started to rain on us. The whole room suddenly went completely silent.
24. Shortly
- Meaning: Within a very short time from now, but not this second.
- Examples: The next train will arrive here shortly. Dinner will be ready shortly, so wash up.
25. Soon
- Meaning: In a short time from now, without having to wait long.
- Examples: I hope we can meet again soon. The results will be announced very soon.
26. Presently
- Meaning: Before long, or in a short while from the present time.
- Examples: The manager will see you presently, so please wait. Presently, the guests began to arrive at the hall.
27. Forthwith
- Meaning: A formal word meaning right away and without any delay.
- Examples: The judge ordered the papers delivered forthwith. Please submit your forms forthwith to the office.
28. Straightaway
- Meaning: Done at once, with nothing getting in the way first.
- Examples: I called my mother straightaway after the news. He fixed the leaking kitchen tap straightaway.
29. Without delay
- Meaning: A clear phrase meaning do it now and do not wait.
- Examples: Please send the final payment without any delay. The nurse arrived without delay when I called.
30. Double-quick
- Meaning: Extremely fast, even faster than what most people call quick.
- Examples: The soldiers marched double-quick across the field. Finish your homework double-quick and join us.
31. Like lightning
- Meaning: With amazing speed, as fast as a bolt in the sky.
- Examples: News traveled like lightning through the small town. The runner moved like lightning at the finish.
32. At full speed
- Meaning: Going as fast as possible, using all the power available.
- Examples: The car raced at full speed down the road. We worked at full speed before the deadline.
33. Nimbly
- Meaning: Quickly and lightly, with smooth, clever movements of the body.
- Examples: The goat jumped nimbly across the rocky stream. She nimbly dodged the ball and smiled.
34. Fleetly
- Meaning: In a swift and light way, like a bird in flight.
- Examples: The deer ran fleetly through the quiet forest. The young dancer moved fleetly across the stage.
35. Chop-chop
- Meaning: A playful way to tell someone to hurry up right now.
- Examples: Chop-chop, kids, the school bus is here! Let’s go chop-chop, or we will miss the movie.
36. Smartly
- Meaning: In a quick, sharp, and neat way that looks confident.
- Examples: The guard saluted smartly and stood tall. She smartly answered every question in the quiz.
37. Summarily
- Meaning: Done quickly and without the usual steps or long talks.
- Examples: The boss summarily rejected the late proposal. The case was summarily closed by the court.
38. Efficiently
- Meaning: Done fast and well, with very little waste of effort.
- Examples: The new staff works efficiently every single day. He efficiently sorted the mail in ten minutes.
39. Readily
- Meaning: Done quickly and happily, with no sign of doubt or trouble.
- Examples: She readily agreed to help with the project. Water is readily available at the nearby shop.
40. Urgently
- Meaning: Done fast because the matter is very important and cannot wait.
- Examples: We urgently need a doctor at the gate. He urgently called his team about the problem.
41. On the double
- Meaning: A military-style phrase that means hurry up and move fast.
- Examples: Bring those boxes here on the double. Clean your room on the double, please.
42. Meteorically
- Meaning: Rising or moving with great speed, like a shooting star.
- Examples: Her fame rose meteorically after the first song. The small shop grew meteorically within one year.
43. Precipitately
- Meaning: Done too fast, often before thinking about what may happen.
- Examples: He precipitately quit his job without a plan. Do not act precipitately when you feel angry.
44. Cursorily
- Meaning: Done quickly and lightly, without looking at the details closely.
- Examples: She cursorily read the email before the meeting. The guard cursorily checked our bags at the door.
45. Headlong
- Meaning: Moving fast and straight ahead, often without much careful thought.
- Examples: The boy ran headlong into the cold water. They rushed headlong into the new business idea.
46. In a jiffy
- Meaning: A friendly phrase meaning in a very short moment of time.
- Examples: I will be back in a jiffy. Dinner will be on the table in a jiffy.
47. Quick as a wink
- Meaning: Done so fast that you could barely blink your eyes.
- Examples: The magician hid the coin quick as a wink. She left the room quick as a wink.
48. Hotfoot
- Meaning: Moving in a great hurry, usually on foot, to reach somewhere.
- Examples: She ran hotfoot to the bus stop. He rushed hotfoot to the hospital after the call.
49. Rapid-fire
- Meaning: Done in a fast, nonstop way, one thing right after another.
- Examples: The reporter asked rapid-fire questions at the event. He spoke rapid-fire, and I missed half of it.
65. Breakneck
- Meaning: Dangerously fast, at a speed that feels almost out of control.
- Examples: The truck sped along at breakneck speed. Technology is changing at a breakneck pace today.
Choosing the right word matters more than most writers think. A small change in wording can change the whole feeling of a sentence.
“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter65it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” 65 Mark Twain
Formal Synonyms for Quickly
Formal writing needs polished word choices. Words like expeditiously, promptly, forthwith, and swiftly sound professional and clear. Use them in reports, essays, cover letters, and official emails. For example, write “Please respond promptly” instead of “Reply fast.” These options keep your tone respectful while still showing that the task matters and time is limited. They also help you avoid repeating the same word.
Casual Words for Quickly
In everyday talk, short and playful words work best. Try pronto, chop-chop, in a jiffy, lickety-split, or in no time. They sound warm and friendly, so they fit chats with friends, family messages, and social media posts. Say “I’ll be there in a jiffy” instead of “I will arrive promptly.” Just avoid them in serious or legal writing, where a formal tone is expected.
Synonyms for Quickly in Business Emails
Business emails need clear, kind, and confident words. Use promptly, without delay, right away, or at your earliest convenience to set a clear timeline. For instance, “Please confirm the meeting promptly” feels polite and firm. Avoid slang like pronto, because it may sound unprofessional. Always add a date when the task is truly urgent, so nobody feels confused about your expectations.
How to Choose the Right Synonym for Quickly
Always think about tone, audience, and meaning. Hastily often suggests carelessness, while efficiently suggests quality. Abruptly hints at surprise, but swiftly feels smooth and graceful. Ask yourself whether the action is rushed, planned, or sudden. Then pick the word that matches your goal. When you feel unsure, read your sentence aloud to hear if it sounds natural.
Is Quickly an Adverb?
Yes. Quickly is an adverb. It tells us how an action happens. In “She ran quickly,” the word describes the verb “ran.” Many adverbs end in “-ly,” but not all do. Remember that fast can be both an adjective and an adverb, while quickly works only as an adverb. Knowing this helps you build correct sentences. Spotting adverbs also makes grammar feel easier.
What Is the Difference Between Quickly and Promptly?
Quickly describes speed, while promptly describes timing. If you walk quickly, you move at a fast pace. If you reply promptly, you answer on time or soon after being asked. Someone can act promptly without being fast. Choose quickly for speed and promptly for punctuality. This small difference can make your emails and essays sound more accurate and professional.
Can I Use Fast Instead of Quickly?
Often, yes. “He runs fast” and “He runs quickly” mean almost the same. However, fast is shorter and more casual, so it suits chats and speech. Quickly sounds a little more polished in writing. You cannot always swap them, though. We say “a fast car,” not “a quickly car,” because fast is also an adjective. Check the sentence structure first.
What Is the Opposite of Quickly?
The opposite of quickly is slowly. Other opposites include gradually, leisurely, unhurriedly, and sluggishly. Each has a slightly different feeling. For example, “leisurely” sounds relaxed and pleasant, while “sluggishly” sounds tired or weak. Learning opposites together with synonyms builds a stronger vocabulary and helps you describe speed with more variety and accuracy. Try both in your writing.
Conclusion:
Learning synonyms for quickly does more than grow your word list. It makes your writing cleaner, your speaking sharper, and your messages easier to enjoy. When you stop repeating one word, readers stay interested and your ideas feel stronger. Bloggers gain more engaged readers, students earn better marks, and everyday speakers sound more confident.
“Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankeind.” 65 Rudyard Kipling
Now it is time to practice. Pick five words from this list and use them this week. Try promptly in an email, swiftly in an essay, and in a jiffy in a chat with a friend. Write one new sentence each day, and say it out loud. Small habits build big skills.
“Well done is better than well said.” 65 Benjamin Franklin
Remember, you do not need to memorize all 65 words at once. Start slow, stay curious, and keep a small notebook of favorites. Bookmark this page so you can return whenever you need a fresh word. Soon, the right word will come to you quickly and naturally. Keep reading, keep writing, and enjoy every new word you learn.

I am Ryan Wilson, a passionate writer at SynonymNexts.com, sharing clear, useful, and engaging content about words, synonyms, and language.

