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
noun ˈkwik-nər
Synonyms
- accelerate
- bundle
- fast-track
- hasten
- hurry
- rush
- speed (up)
- whisk
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Blue Horizon, an investment company with a mission to quicken the pace to sustainable food systems, has invested in California Cultured earlier this year. 
K Barrett Bilali, Quartz, 1 Sep. 2022 But his heart began to quicken as a perfect 900 came into focus. Wilson Moore, The Indianapolis Star, 13 July 2022 That intervention allowed the state to quicken its pace in processing payments by 25%, said Geoffrey Ross, a deputy director at the state Department of Housing and Community Development. Hannah Wileystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2022 His prose, like the river itself, has turns that quicken the pulse. Danny Heitman, WSJ, 28 July 2022 One of these changes is long overdue and will quicken the pace: Eight technical Oscars will no longer be awarded on camera. Kyle Smith, National Review, 26 Mar. 2022 Sweating is amplified when it’s hot and humid, and this can ultimately quicken the dehydration process during exercise. Patrick Wilson, Outside Online, 15 June 2020 Still, the White House reacted to the horror emerging from Ukraine by promising to quicken the pace of military, humanitarian and economic aid to Kyiv. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 5 Apr. 2022 Inflation can rise, grow, increase, accelerate, quicken, fall, slow, decelerate or ease. WSJ, 6 May 2022 See More
K Barrett Bilali, Quartz, 1 Sep. 2022 But his heart began to quicken as a perfect 900 came into focus. Wilson Moore, The Indianapolis Star, 13 July 2022 That intervention allowed the state to quicken its pace in processing payments by 25%, said Geoffrey Ross, a deputy director at the state Department of Housing and Community Development. Hannah Wileystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2022 His prose, like the river itself, has turns that quicken the pulse. Danny Heitman, WSJ, 28 July 2022 One of these changes is long overdue and will quicken the pace: Eight technical Oscars will no longer be awarded on camera. Kyle Smith, National Review, 26 Mar. 2022 Sweating is amplified when it’s hot and humid, and this can ultimately quicken the dehydration process during exercise. Patrick Wilson, Outside Online, 15 June 2020 Still, the White House reacted to the horror emerging from Ukraine by promising to quicken the pace of military, humanitarian and economic aid to Kyiv. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 5 Apr. 2022 Inflation can rise, grow, increase, accelerate, quicken, fall, slow, decelerate or ease. WSJ, 6 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Kids Definition
quicken
verb
quick·en ˈkwi-kən
quickened; quickening
1
: to make or become faster : hasten
They quickened their steps.
2
: to make or become stronger or more active
Curiosity quickened my interest.
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
quicken
verb
1
as in to accelerate
to cause to move or proceed fast or faster she eventually quickened her pace so she could keep up with the others Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- accelerate
- rush
- hasten
- push
- hurry
- encourage
- urge
- facilitate
- fast-track
- spur
- expedite
- whisk
- bundle
- aid
- propel
- speed (up)
- prod
- drive
- goad
- race
- stir
- ease
- dispatch
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- decelerate
- hinder
- impede
- brake
- retard
- slow (down)
- restrain
- delay
- encumber
- hamper
- interfere (with)
- stop
- check
- fetter
- tie up
- rein (in)
- hold back
- stay
- shackle
- arrest
- hold up
- hobble
- stall
- still
- trammel
- manacle
2
as in to stimulate
to give life, vigor, or spirit to the news that we'd head to Florida for Christmas quickened the children, who instantly began jumping for joy Synonyms & Similar Words
- stimulate
- arouse
- invigorate
- enliven
- animate
- energize
- stir
- awaken
- vivify
- vitalize
- provoke
- excite
- activate
- electrify
- inspire
- revive
- strengthen
- rouse
- drive
- propel
- spark
- spike
- cheer
- fillip
- motivate
- lift
- trigger
- fire
- jump-start
- motive
- boost
- raise
- impel
- brace
- recreate
- awake
- refresh
- charge
- move
- rally
- zip (up)
- renew
- jazz (up)
- resurrect
- pep (up)
- liven (up)
- juice up
- actuate
- enkindle
- galvanize
- amp (up)
- incite
- foment
- infuse
- hearten
- embolden
- kindle
- instigate
- inflame
- ginger (up)
- reawaken
- reinvigorate
- abet
- buoy
- set off
- rekindle
- ferment
- regenerate
- revitalize
- rejuvenate
- reactivate
- fortify
- reanimate
- resuscitate
- enflame
- reenergize
- steel
- turn on
- recharge
- wake (up)
- refreshen
- restimulate
- whip (up)
- reawake
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- kill
- dull
- dampen
- deaden
- weaken
- slow
- undermine
- weary
- damp
- harass
- debilitate
- enervate
- drain
- restrain
- exhaust
- wear
- inhibit
- enfeeble
- check
- sap
- fatigue
- suppress
- quench
- quell
- curb
- repress
- knock out
- wear out
- discourage
- wash out
- tucker (out)
- still
- stunt
- daunt
- burn out
- dishearten
- jade
- demoralize
- kayo
- fag
- dispirit
- do in
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of quicken are animate, enliven, and vivify. While all these words 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
The words animate and quicken can be used in similar contexts, but animate emphasizes the imparting of motion or vitality to what is or might be mechanical or artificial.
happiness animated his conversation
Although the words enliven and quicken have much in common, enliven suggests a stimulus that arouses from dullness or torpidity.
enlivened her lectures with humorous anecdotes
The words vivify and quicken are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, vivify implies a freshening or energizing through renewal of vitality.
new blood needed to vivify the dying club