Quick vs. Swift — What's the Difference?

Moving fast or doing something in a short time

Moving or capable of moving with great speed; fast.

Prompt to understand, think, or learn; intelligent

Fast; quick; rapid.

At a fast rate; quickly

Capable of moving at high speeds.

The soft tender flesh below the growing part of a fingernail or toenail.

A small plain-colored bird of the family Apodidae that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight.

Those who are living

Any of certain lizards of the genus Sceloporus.

A fast bowler.

(entomology) A moth of the family Hepialidae, swift moth, ghost moth.

Moving or functioning rapidly and energetically; speedy

(entomology) Any of various fast-flying hesperiid butterflies.

Learning, thinking, or understanding with speed and dexterity; bright

(textiles) A light, collapsible reel used to hold a hank of yarn in order to wind off skeins or balls.

Perceiving or responding with speed and sensitivity; keen

The main cylinder of a carding-machine.

Reacting immediately and sharply

(obsolete) The current of a stream.

Occurring, achieved, or acquired in a relatively brief period of time

Swiftly.

Done or occurring immediately

Moving a great distance in a short time; moving with celerity or velocity; fleet; rapid; quick; speedy; prompt.

Moving with speed, rapidity or swiftness, or capable of doing so; rapid; fast.

Of short continuance; passing away quickly.

Occurring in a short time; happening or done rapidly.

Swiftly.

Lively, fast-thinking, witty, intelligent.

The current of a stream.

Mentally agile, alert, perceptive.

Any one of numerous species of small, long-winged, insectivorous birds of the family Micropodidæ. In form and habits the swifts resemble swallows, but they are destitute of complex vocal muscles and are not singing birds, but belong to a widely different group allied to the humming birds.

Of temper: easily aroused to anger; quick-tempered.

Any one of several species of lizards, as the pine lizard.

(archaic) Alive, living.

The ghost moth. See under Ghost.

Pregnant, especially at the stage where the foetus's movements can be felt; figuratively, alive with some emotion or feeling.

A reel, or turning instrument, for winding yarn, thread, etc.; - used chiefly in the plural.

Of water: flowing.

The main card cylinder of a flax-carding machine.

Burning, flammable, fiery.

United States meat-packer who began the use of refrigerated railroad cars (1839-1903)

Fresh; bracing; sharp; keen.

An English satirist born in Ireland (1667-1745)

Productive; not "dead" or barren

Small plain-colored bird that resembles a swallow and is noted for its rapid flight

Quickly, in a quick manner.

Common western lizard; seen on logs or rocks

Answer quickly.

Moving very fast;

Raw or sensitive flesh, especially that underneath finger and toe nails.

Plants used in making a quickset hedge

The life; the mortal point; a vital part; a part susceptible to serious injury or keen feeling.

Quitchgrass.

(cricket) A fast bowler.

(transitive) To amalgamate surfaces prior to gilding or silvering by dipping them into a solution of mercury in nitric acid.

To quicken.

Alive; living; animate; - opposed to dead or inanimate.

Characterized by life or liveliness; animated; sprightly; agile; brisk; ready.

Speedy; hasty; swift; not slow; as, be quick.

Impatient; passionate; hasty; eager; eager; sharp; unceremonious; as, a quick temper.

Fresh; bracing; sharp; keen.

Sensitive; perceptive in a high degree; ready; as, a quick ear.

Pregnant; with child.

In a quick manner; quickly; promptly; rapidly; with haste; speedily; without delay; as, run quick; get back quick.

That which is quick, or alive; a living animal or plant; especially, the hawthorn, or other plants used in making a living hedge.

The life; the mortal point; a vital part; a part susceptible of serious injury or keen feeling; the sensitive living flesh; the part of a finger or toe to which the nail is attached; the tender emotions; as, to cut a finger nail to the quick; to thrust a sword to the quick, to taunt one to the quick; - used figuratively.

Quitch grass.

To revive; to quicken; to be or become alive.

Any area of the body that is highly sensitive to pain (as the flesh underneath the skin or a fingernail or toenail)

Accomplished rapidly and without delay;

Hurried and brief;

Moving quickly and lightly;

Apprehending and responding with speed and sensitivity;

Performed with little or no delay;

Easily aroused or excited;

With little or no delay;