quickness

/ˈkwɪknɪs/

/ˈkwɪknɛs/

Other forms: quicknesses

A quality of moving fast, physically or mentally, is quickness. The quickness of your reaction saved your little sister from falling off the monkey bars and hitting her head.

Quickness is almost always a positive attribute, whether it's the quickness of a cornerback on a football field or an improv comic's quickness of phrase. Because it describes super speedy action, this word can also be used for a fast, fiery disposition: "His quickness of temper doesn't make him an ideal candidate for the job." The original meaning of this word, dating from about 1200, was "state of being alive."

Definitions of quickness

1. noun

   a rate that is rapid
   synonyms: celerity, rapidity, rapidness, speediness

   types:

   fleetness

   rapidity of movement

   immediacy, immediateness, instancy, instantaneousness

   the quickness of action or occurrence

   despatch, dispatch, expedition, expeditiousness

   the property of being prompt and efficient

   promptitude, promptness

   the characteristic of doing things without delay

   type of:

   clip, pace, rate

   the relative speed of progress or change
2. noun

   intelligence as revealed by an ability to give correct responses without delay
   synonyms: mental quickness, quick-wittedness

   type of:

   intelligence

   the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
3. noun

   skillful performance or ability without difficulty
   synonyms: adeptness, adroitness, deftness, facility

   types:

   touch

   deftness in handling matters

   dexterity, manual dexterity, sleight

   adroitness in using the hands

   capstone, copestone, finishing touch

   a final touch; a crowning achievement; a culmination

   type of:

   skillfulness

   the state of being cognitively skillful