quickest

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "quickest" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when comparing the speed of three or more items or actions. An example is: "She is the quickest runner in the team." Alternative expressions include "fastest" and "swiftest."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In Congo and Central African Republic, Sawyer said Invisible Children has been "some of the quickest organizations to respond to the needs on the ground, very flexible and willing to work with and listen to the local communities".

The Guardian

That way will the quickest for some of their strongly held views to succeed.

The Guardian

The quickest thing you can make with miso is to mix it with the same amount of butter – mix it together so it is combined and it becomes the most amazing spread, a really nice breakfast spread.

The Guardian

Williams had progressed with ease through her semi-final earlier in the evening in 11.59sec, the quickest of the qualifiers, before adding the world junior title to her 2009 global youth gold.

The Guardian - Sport

After a quickfire half-century off 40 deliveries, Gilchrist took only a further 17 to reach his century – scoring the second-fastest hundred in Test history, and the quickest in an Ashes contest.

The Guardian - Sport

The easiest and quickest way to bring about a cultural shift is to get rid of cheap supermarket drink at pocket-money prices and stop drink being available and heavily marketed 24/7," he says.

The Guardian

Greenway c Healy b Perry 2 (England 58-3) Perry, the quickest bowler on show today, comes back into the attack and beats a groping Greenway with a ball angled across the left-hander.

The Guardian - Sport

Factfile Eurotunnel (08705 353535) is the quickest and easiest way to cross the Channel with a car, with journey times of about half an hour.

The Guardian - Travel

Where his first had been a stunning solo effort, this strike was more opportunistic – the Moroccan reacting quickest after his header was palmed out by Angelo Da Costa – but his all-around performances for the Rossoneri have been impressive.

The Guardian - Sport

Greene qualified fourth fastest overall, with the world No1, Javier Culson, of Puerto Rico quickest in 48.33.

The Guardian - Sport

Some of the more esoteric ones have grown quickest.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "quickest", ensure you are comparing three or more items or actions. For two items, use "quicker".

Common error

Avoid using "quick" when you need the superlative form, "quickest". "Quick" is the base adjective, while "quickest" indicates the highest degree of speed among three or more options. For example, say "This is the quickest route", not "This is the quick route" if you mean it's the fastest of all available routes.

Linguistic Context

The word "quickest" functions primarily as a superlative adjective. It modifies a noun to indicate that it possesses the highest degree of speed or efficiency compared to all others in a given context. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Formal & Business

27%

Science

27%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "quickest" is a superlative adjective used to denote the highest degree of speed or efficiency among three or more options. According to Ludwig AI, its grammatical structure is correct and widely used in various contexts, including news, business, and scientific domains. Common synonyms include "fastest" and "swiftest". A key point to remember is to use "quickest" only when comparing three or more entities; otherwise, "quicker" is the appropriate comparative form. It is also worth bearing in mind that while the expression is suitable for many writing environments, in some of the more formal scenarios using "most expeditious" or "most rapid" might be better suited.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fastest

A common and direct synonym, suitable for most contexts.

speediest

A slightly more emphatic synonym for quickest, often used in informal contexts.

swiftest

Similar to quickest, but sometimes implies grace or ease of movement.

most rapid

Emphasizes speed in a more formal or technical context.

most expeditious

Highlights efficiency and convenience in achieving a result.

most prompt

Emphasizes timeliness and readiness.

most efficient

Focuses on achieving a result with minimal wasted time or effort.

hastiest

Suggests speed, but also implies a sense of urgency or potential carelessness.

most nimble

Implies agility and skill in addition to speed.

most agile

Similar to nimble, emphasizing ease and efficiency of movement.

FAQs

How do I use "quickest" in a sentence?

Use "quickest" to compare the speed of three or more things. For example, "She is the "quickest runner" on the team" or "This is the "quickest way to" get there".

What are some alternatives to "quickest"?

Synonyms for "quickest" include "fastest", "swiftest", and "most rapid". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.

Is there a difference between "quickest" and "fastest"?

While "quickest" and "fastest" are often interchangeable, "quickest" can sometimes imply efficiency or ease in addition to speed. "Fastest" primarily focuses on speed alone.

When should I use "quicker" instead of "quickest"?

Use "quicker" when comparing only two things. "Quickest" is used when comparing three or more. For example, "This route is quicker than that one", but "This is the "quickest route" of all".