When you need a quickly synonym, the best word depends on what you mean. Words such as rapidly, swiftly, speedily, promptly, immediately, and hastily can all relate to speed, but they are not always interchangeable.
In simple English, quickly means doing something at a fast speed or in a short amount of time. Choosing the right alternative can make your writing more precise, natural, and expressive.
If you are a student, ESL learner, writer, or content creator, this guide explains 30 useful synonyms and near-synonyms for quickly, including their meanings, example sentences, and best contexts.
Quick Answer: What Is a Synonym for Quickly?
Some of the best synonyms for quickly are:
Rapidly, swiftly, speedily, fast, promptly, immediately, hurriedly, hastily, briskly, expeditiously, without delay, at once, in haste, pronto, and posthaste.
The exact choice depends on your intended meaning. For example, rapidly emphasizes high speed, while promptly emphasizes doing something without unnecessary delay.
What Does Quickly Mean?
Quickly is an adverb that means at a fast speed or within a short period of time.
For example:
This sentence means that she completed her homework in a short amount of time.
Quickly can describe physical movement, actions, changes, decisions, or the completion of tasks.
Quickly in Different Contexts
Physical speed:
Fast action:
Short amount of time:
Fast change:
The word is common in everyday English, so replacing it with a more specific synonym can sometimes make your writing more interesting.
30 Synonyms for Quickly
Below are 30 useful synonyms and closely related expressions. Some are exact alternatives, while others express a slightly different idea, such as urgency or immediate action.
1. Rapidly
Simple meaning: At a very fast rate.
Example: The company is growing rapidly.
Best usage/context: Formal writing, reports, academic writing, and descriptions of fast change.
2. Swiftly
Simple meaning: Very quickly and smoothly.
Example: The firefighter swiftly moved toward the building.
Best usage/context: Actions, movement, storytelling, and polished writing.
3. Speedily
Simple meaning: Quickly or at a fast speed.
Example: The technician repaired the computer speedily.
Best usage/context: General writing, although it sounds slightly more formal than quickly.
4. Fast
Simple meaning: At a high speed.
Example: She ran fast to catch the bus.
Best usage/context: Everyday conversation and informal writing.
5. Promptly
Simple meaning: Without unnecessary delay.
Example: The customer service team promptly answered my question.
Best usage/context: Professional emails, business communication, and situations involving timely action.
6. Immediately
Simple meaning: At once, without waiting.
Example: Please call me immediately.
Best usage/context: Urgent situations where there is little or no waiting time.
7. Hurriedly
Simple meaning: In a rushed or hurried way.
Example: He hurriedly packed his bag before leaving.
Best usage/context: Actions performed because someone is short on time.
8. Hastily
Simple meaning: Very quickly, often without enough thought.
Example: She hastily made a decision and later regretted it.
Best usage/context: Situations involving rushing or a lack of careful consideration.
9. Briskly
Simple meaning: Quickly and energetically.
Example: We walked briskly through the park.
Best usage/context: Walking, movement, and energetic actions.
10. Expeditiously
Simple meaning: Quickly and efficiently.
Example: The request was handled expeditiously.
Best usage/context: Formal, professional, legal, or administrative writing.
11. Without Delay
Simple meaning: Immediately or without waiting.
Example: The issue should be addressed without delay.
Best usage/context: Formal instructions, professional writing, and urgent situations.
12. At Once
Simple meaning: Immediately.
Example: Come here at once.
Best usage/context: Commands, urgent situations, and everyday speech.
13. In Haste
Simple meaning: Very quickly, usually because of urgency.
Example: He left the office in haste.
Best usage/context: Formal or literary writing.
14. Pronto
Simple meaning: Quickly or immediately.
Example: I need this report finished pronto.
Best usage/context: Informal conversation and playful writing.
15. Posthaste
Simple meaning: As quickly as possible.
Example: The message was sent posthaste.
Best usage/context: Formal, literary, or old-fashioned styles.
16. In a Hurry
Simple meaning: Moving or acting quickly because there is limited time.
Example: I was in a hurry, so I skipped breakfast.
Best usage/context: Everyday conversation and informal writing.
17. Rapidly
Simple meaning: Very quickly or at a fast rate.
Example: Technology is changing rapidly.
Best usage/context: Describing growth, development, movement, or change.
18. At High Speed
Simple meaning: Moving very fast.
Example: The car was traveling at high speed.
Best usage/context: Vehicles, machines, transportation, and technical descriptions.
19. With Speed
Simple meaning: Quickly or efficiently.
Example: The problem was solved with speed.
Best usage/context: Formal or descriptive writing.
20. In No Time
Simple meaning: Very soon or after only a short period.
Example: We will finish the project in no time.
Best usage/context: Casual conversation and reassuring statements.
21. Before Long
Simple meaning: Soon.
Example: Before long, everyone knew the news.
Best usage/context: Storytelling and situations where something happens relatively soon.
22. Shortly
Simple meaning: Soon or after a brief period.
Example: The meeting will begin shortly.
Best usage/context: Announcements, professional communication, and formal speech.
23. Soon
Simple meaning: In a short time.
Example: She will be here soon.
Best usage/context: Everyday English. It focuses more on timing than physical speed.
24. In an Instant
Simple meaning: Almost immediately.
Example: The lights went out in an instant.
Best usage/context: Dramatic descriptions and situations involving sudden change.
25. In a Flash
Simple meaning: Extremely quickly.
Example: The children disappeared in a flash.
Best usage/context: Informal, vivid, and conversational writing.
26. In a Jiffy
Simple meaning: Very soon or very quickly.
Example: I’ll be back in a jiffy.
Best usage/context: Informal and friendly conversation.
27. Like a Shot
Simple meaning: Extremely quickly.
Example: He ran out of the room like a shot.
Best usage/context: Informal British English and lively storytelling.
28. Like Lightning
Simple meaning: Extremely fast.
Example: She moved like lightning when she heard the alarm.
Best usage/context: Informal, figurative, and descriptive writing.
29. Posthaste
Simple meaning: With great speed or urgency.
Example: The documents were delivered posthaste.
Best usage/context: Literary, historical, or deliberately formal writing.
30. Lickety-Split
Simple meaning: Very quickly.
Example: We finished the cleanup lickety-split.
Best usage/context: Very informal, playful, and humorous English.
Comparison Table: Quickly Synonyms at a Glance
| Synonym | Main Meaning | Tone | Best Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rapidly | At a very fast rate | Neutral/Formal | Change, growth |
| Swiftly | Quickly and smoothly | Neutral | Movement, action |
| Speedily | At a fast speed | Neutral | General writing |
| Fast | At high speed | Informal/Neutral | Everyday English |
| Promptly | Without delay | Formal/Neutral | Business, service |
| Immediately | At once | Neutral | Urgent situations |
| Hurriedly | In a rushed way | Neutral | Limited time |
| Hastily | Quickly without enough thought | Neutral | Decisions, actions |
| Briskly | Quickly and energetically | Neutral | Walking, movement |
| Expeditiously | Quickly and efficiently | Formal | Business, administration |
| Without delay | Without waiting | Formal | Instructions |
| At once | Immediately | Neutral | Commands |
| In haste | In a rushed manner | Formal | Writing, storytelling |
| Pronto | Quickly | Informal | Conversation |
| Posthaste | As quickly as possible | Formal/Old-fashioned | Literary writing |
| In a hurry | Because of limited time | Informal | Daily conversation |
| In no time | Very soon | Informal | Conversation |
| Shortly | Soon | Formal/Neutral | Announcements |
| Soon | In a short time | Neutral | General timing |
| In an instant | Almost immediately | Neutral | Sudden events |
| In a flash | Extremely quickly | Informal | Casual writing |
| In a jiffy | Very soon | Informal | Conversation |
| Like a shot | Extremely quickly | Informal | Movement |
| Like lightning | Extremely fast | Informal/Figurative | Descriptions |
| Lickety-split | Very quickly | Playful | Humorous writing |
How to Choose the Right Quickly Synonym
The best synonym depends on meaning, tone, and intention. Simply replacing quickly with another word does not always produce natural English.
For Physical Speed
Use words such as:
- Fast
- Swiftly
- Speedily
- Rapidly
- Briskly
Example:
Here, swiftly sounds more descriptive than simply saying “quickly.”
For Urgency
Use:
- Immediately
- At once
- Without delay
- Posthaste
- In haste
Example:
These words suggest that waiting is not acceptable.
For Professional Writing
Use:
- Promptly
- Expeditiously
- Without delay
- Rapidly
Example:
Promptly works particularly well when you want to emphasize responsible and timely action.
For Informal Conversation
Use:
- Fast
- Pronto
- In a jiffy
- In a flash
- In no time
- Lickety-split
Example:
This sounds friendly and casual.
For Descriptive or Creative Writing
Use:
- Swiftly
- Briskly
- In a flash
- Like lightning
- Like a shot
Example:
These choices can make a sentence more vivid.
Quickly vs. Rapidly
Quickly is a general word for doing something in a short time or at a fast speed.
Rapidly usually emphasizes a high rate of speed or fast change.
Compare:
The first sentence focuses on completing an action quickly. The second emphasizes the rate of change.
Quickly vs. Swiftly
Quickly is more common and neutral.
Swiftly often sounds more polished and can suggest smooth or decisive movement.
Both are correct, but swiftly gives the action a slightly more vivid or deliberate quality.
Quickly vs. Promptly
These words are related but have different focuses.
Quickly emphasizes speed.
Promptly emphasizes acting without delay.
The second sentence suggests that she did not keep the sender waiting.
Quickly vs. Immediately
Immediately is stronger than quickly.
If something happens quickly, it happens in a short time. If something happens immediately, it happens at once or with essentially no delay.
The second sentence gives a stronger sense of urgency.
Common Mistakes When Using Quickly Synonyms
Using “Immediately” When You Mean “Soon”
These words are not always interchangeable.
Incorrect meaning:
If you mean sometime next week, soon may be more appropriate.
Better:
Using “Hastily” as a Positive Word
Hastily can imply that someone acted too quickly or without enough thought.
This may suggest that he failed to consider the consequences.
If you simply mean that he acted efficiently, promptly may be better.
Using Formal Words in Casual Conversations
Words such as expeditiously and posthaste can sound unnatural in everyday conversation.
Instead of:
A natural everyday alternative is:
Confusing Speed With Time
Some alternatives focus on speed, while others focus on how soon something happens.
For example:
- Swiftly = at a fast speed
- Promptly = without delay
- Soon = after a short period
- Immediately = at once
Understanding this difference helps you choose more precise vocabulary.
Quick Synonym Guide by Tone
| Tone | Good Choices |
|---|---|
| Everyday | Fast, quickly, soon |
| Professional | Promptly, expeditiously |
| Formal | Rapidly, without delay |
| Urgent | Immediately, at once |
| Literary | Swiftly, in haste, posthaste |
| Informal | Pronto, in a jiffy |
| Playful | Lickety-split, in a flash |
| Descriptive | Like lightning, briskly |
FAQs:
What is the best synonym for quickly?
The best synonym depends on the sentence. Rapidly works well for fast change, swiftly for movement, promptly for timely action, and immediately for something that happens without delay.
What is a simple synonym for quickly?
Fast is one of the simplest alternatives to quickly. Speedily is another straightforward synonym.
What is a formal synonym for quickly?
Expeditiously, rapidly, promptly, and without delay can work in formal writing, depending on the context.
What is a synonym for quickly in an essay?
For academic or formal writing, consider rapidly, swiftly, promptly, or at a rapid rate, depending on the intended meaning.
What is a synonym for quickly that means immediately?
Immediately, at once, and without delay are strong choices when you mean something happens with little or no waiting.
What is the difference between quickly and promptly?
Quickly focuses on speed or completing something in a short time. Promptly focuses on responding or acting without unnecessary delay.
Is “fast” a synonym for quickly?
Yes. Fast can function as an adverb and is commonly used as an alternative to quickly, especially in everyday English.
What is a casual way to say quickly?
Informal expressions include in a jiffy, in a flash, pronto, and lickety-split. Their suitability depends on the audience and situation.
Conclusion
There are many useful quickly synonyms, but each one carries a slightly different meaning or tone. Rapidly emphasizes a high rate of speed, swiftly suggests fast and often smooth action, while promptly focuses on responding without delay.
For urgent situations, immediately, at once, and without delay are strong choices. For casual conversations, expressions such as in a jiffy, in a flash, and pronto can make your language sound more natural and lively.
The key is to choose a synonym based on what you actually want to communicate. When you understand the difference between speed, urgency, and timing, your vocabulary becomes more accurate and expressive.
I’m Nathan Collins, a language enthusiast passionate about exploring synonyms and improving everyday writing. I create clear, accurate, and helpful content that helps readers expand vocabulary and communicate with confidence.
