Cool MateQuickly vs Rapidly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Quickly
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Rapidly
Top 1,000 (very common)B2adverb
| Quickly | Rapidly | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkwɪkli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkwɪkli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈræpɪdli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈræpɪdli/"]/ |
| Meaning | In a fast manner | quickly or fast |
| Example | She ran quickly to catch the bus. | to **increase/spread/expand rapidly** |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adverb | adverb |
| Collocations | move quickly, react quickly, think quickly | grow rapidly, change rapidly, develop rapidly, increase rapidly |
| Antonyms | slowly | slowly |
| Common mistakes | Using 'quick' instead of 'quickly' when modifying a verb., Placing 'quickly' too far from the verb it modifies., Confusing 'quickly' with 'fastly' since 'fast' is the correct adverb. | Using 'rapidly' as an adjective instead of an adverb, Confusing 'rapidly' with 'quickly' in formal writing contexts, Overusing 'rapidly' in informal conversations where simpler words are better |
| Usage notes | Use 'quickly' when describing how something is done fast. Appropriate in both spoken and written English, but may be overly formal in casual conversations. | Use 'rapidly' in contexts where something is happening very quickly. It's more formal than 'quickly' and might not be suitable for casual conversations. |
Frequently asked questions: Quickly vs Rapidly
What's the difference between Quickly and Rapidly?
Quickly: In a fast manner Rapidly: quickly or fast
Which is more advanced: Quickly and Rapidly?
Rapidly is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Quickly and Rapidly the same CEFR level?
Quickly: A1, Rapidly: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Quickly and Rapidly?
Quickly: adverb, Rapidly: adverb.
Can you show an example of each?
Quickly: She ran quickly to catch the bus. Rapidly: to **increase/spread/expand rapidly**
Can I use Quickly and Rapidly interchangeably?
Not always. Quickly and Rapidly are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.