Quicken
v.energetic, hopefulliterary
What it means
To make something faster, livelier, or more active.
Reach for it when describing an increase in pace, growth, feeling, or vitality
The first warm days quicken growth in the garden.
Choose between these
6- everyday
speed up
plain wording for increased pace is best
not when Speeding up does not cover awakening emotion or growth.
- warm
energy or interest makes something more engaging
not when Enliven does not necessarily change speed.
- professional
accelerate
the rate measurably increases
not when Accelerate is technical and says nothing about liveliness.
- formal
life or expressive energy is imparted
not when Animate can sound technical when a pulse simply quickens.
- formal
hasten
an action brings an event sooner
not when Hasten can imply unwelcome rushing.
- literary
stir
feeling or activity begins to awaken
not when Stir may be slight and not sustained.
Said against
3- slow
- deaden
- dampen
It naturally appears in
3- quicken the pace
A second volunteer will quicken the pace without reducing checks.
- quicken interest
The rediscovered letters may quicken interest in the old station.
- pulse quickens
Her pulse quickens each time the starting bell rings.
The word family
1Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English verb senses: accelerate and enliven opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.