1,480 Words That Start With "Q"
1,480 words that start with "Q" in our 199K-word dictionary.
Browse the complete list of 1,480 English words starting with "Q". Each word in the grid below shows its IPA pronunciation, CEFR difficulty level (A1 beginner up to C2 mastery), and a one-line plain-English definition. Click any word to open its full dictionary entry. Use the filters to narrow by length, part of speech, or learner level.
Most Common Words That Start With "Q" (Top 1k)
No top-1k frequency words match this combination yet.
Less Common Words That Start With "Q" (Top 5k+)
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Quack /kwæk/noun B2
A fake doctor or person who pretends to have skills they don't actually have
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Quaff /kwɒf/verb C2
To drink something in large amounts, usually with pleasure or enthusiasm
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Quagmire /ˈkwæɡmaɪə/noun C2
A muddy swamp where it's easy to get stuck; also used for confusing or difficult situations
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Quaint /kweɪnt/adj B2
Something old-fashioned that looks charming or pleasant in a simple way
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Quake /kweɪk/verb B1
To shake or shiver, usually because of fear or cold
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Qualia /ˈkweɪliə/noun C2
The subjective feeling of an experience; what it's like to see a color or taste something.
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Qualification /ˌkwɑːlɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/noun B1
A certificate or skill showing you are trained to do something.
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Qualify /ˈkwɑːlɪfaɪ/verb B1
To succeed in meeting the requirements to advance to the next round or level of a competition.
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Qualitative /ˈkwɑːlɪteɪtɪv/adj C1
Describing what something is like (its qualities and characteristics) rather than how many or how much there is. About quality, not numbers.
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Quality /ˈkwɑːləti/noun A2
How good or bad something is; the degree of excellence of a thing.
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Qualm /kwɑːm/noun C1
A feeling of worry or doubt about whether something is right
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Quandary /ˈkwɒndəri/noun C1
A confusing situation where it's hard to know what to do
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Quantify /ˈkwɒntɪfaɪ/verb B2
To measure something and express it as a number or amount
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Quantitative /ˈkwɑːntɪteɪtɪv/adj C1
About amounts and numbers that can be measured and counted. Focused on 'how much' or 'how many' rather than describing what something is like.
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Quantity /ˈkwɑːntəti/noun A2
The amount of something; how much or how many you have.
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Quarantine /ˈkwɒrəntiːn/noun B2
A period of separation to stop a disease from spreading
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Quarrel /ˈkwɒrəl/noun B1
An angry argument or fight between people
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Quart /kwɔːrt/noun B1
A unit of measurement for liquids; one quart equals 2 pints or about 1 litre.
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Quarter /ˈkwɔːrtər/noun A2
One fourth of something; or a three-month period; or a section of a city.
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Quarterly /ˈkwɔːrtərli/adj B2
Happening four times a year, every three months. A quarterly report means a report made every three months.
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Quartz /kwɔːts/noun B2
A hard rock or crystal used to make glass and clocks
579 More Words That Start With "Q" (definitions coming soon)
Words That Start With "Q" by Length
2 Letter Words That Start With "Q" (11)
See all 11 2-letter words that start with "Q" →
3 Letter Words That Start With "Q" (13)
See all 13 3-letter words that start with "Q" →
4 Letter Words That Start With "Q" (23)
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Quid /kwɪd/noun B2
Informal British word for a pound of money. Used in casual conversation.
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Quip /kwɪp/noun C1
A clever or funny remark or joke
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Quit /kwɪt/verb A2
To stop doing something or leave a place, usually for good.
See all 23 4-letter words that start with "Q" →
5 Letter Words That Start With "Q" (82)
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Quack /kwæk/noun B2
A fake doctor or person who pretends to have skills they don't actually have
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Quaff /kwɒf/verb C2
To drink something in large amounts, usually with pleasure or enthusiasm
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Quake /kweɪk/verb B1
To shake or shiver, usually because of fear or cold
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Qualm /kwɑːm/noun C1
A feeling of worry or doubt about whether something is right
See all 82 5-letter words that start with "Q" →
6 Letter Words That Start With "Q" (140)
See all 140 6-letter words that start with "Q" →
7 Letter Words That Start With "Q" (193)
See all 193 7-letter words that start with "Q" →
8 Letter Words That Start With "Q" (243)
See all 243 8-letter words that start with "Q" →
9 Letter Words That Start With "Q" (218)
See all 218 9-letter words that start with "Q" →
10 Letter Words That Start With "Q" (171)
See all 171 10-letter words that start with "Q" →
11 Letter Words That Start With "Q" (112)
See all 112 11-letter words that start with "Q" →
12 Letter Words That Start With "Q" (89)
See all 89 12-letter words that start with "Q" →
13 Letter Words That Start With "Q" (91)
See all 91 13-letter words that start with "Q" →
14 Letter Words That Start With "Q" (60)
See all 60 14-letter words that start with "Q" →
15 Letter Words That Start With "Q" (34)
Words That Start With "Q" by Part of Speech
Nouns That Start With "Q" (30)
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Queen /kwiːn/noun A1
A woman who rules a country or is married to a king.
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Qualification /ˌkwɑːlɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/noun B1
A certificate or skill showing you are trained to do something.
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Quarrel /ˈkwɒrəl/noun B1
An angry argument or fight between people
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Quart /kwɔːrt/noun B1
A unit of measurement for liquids; one quart equals 2 pints or about 1 litre.
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Quest /kwest/noun B1
A long search or journey to find or achieve something important
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Question /ˈkwɛstʃən/noun A1
Something you ask someone to get an answer or information.
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Quota /ˈkwoʊtə/noun C1
A goal or target amount that someone must reach. A sales person might have a quota of selling $100,000 worth of products per month.
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Quack /kwæk/noun B2
A fake doctor or person who pretends to have skills they don't actually have
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Qualm /kwɑːm/noun C1
A feeling of worry or doubt about whether something is right
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Quandary /ˈkwɒndəri/noun C1
A confusing situation where it's hard to know what to do
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Quantitative-easing /ˌkwɑːntɪˌteɪtɪv ˈiːzɪŋ/noun C2
When the central bank buys large amounts of bonds and securities to put more money into the economy. Used when regular interest rate cuts don't work.
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Quarantine /ˈkwɒrəntiːn/noun B2
A period of separation to stop a disease from spreading
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Quartz /kwɔːts/noun B2
A hard rock or crystal used to make glass and clocks
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Queue /kjuː/noun B2
A system where items are processed in the order they arrive, like a waiting line.
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Quiche /kiːʃ/noun B2
A type of pie made with eggs and cream, often with cheese or meat
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Quicksand /ˈkwɪksænd/noun B2
Sand mixed with water that sucks things down; also used for tricky situations
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Quid /kwɪd/noun B2
Informal British word for a pound of money. Used in casual conversation.
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Quill /kwɪl/noun B2
A large feather used for writing, especially in old times
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Quilt /kwɪlt/noun B2
A thick blanket made from fabric layers sewn together
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Quintessence /kwɪnˈtɛsəns/noun C1
The absolute best or purest version of something that shows what it really is.
See all 30 nouns that start with "Q" →
Verbs That Start With "Q" (13)
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Quit /kwɪt/verb A2
To stop doing something or leave a place, usually for good.
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Quote /kwoʊt/verb A2
To repeat someone's exact words in speaking or writing.
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Quake /kweɪk/verb B1
To shake or shiver, usually because of fear or cold
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Qualify /ˈkwɑːlɪfaɪ/verb B1
To succeed in meeting the requirements to advance to the next round or level of a competition.
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Quantify /ˈkwɒntɪfaɪ/verb B2
To measure something and express it as a number or amount
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Quash /kwɒʃ/verb C2
To officially cancel or overturn a decision, especially in court. To end something completely and forcefully.
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Quell /kwel/verb C2
To stop something forcefully, especially violence or unrest. To calm or soothe. To end a conflict or disturbance.
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Quench /kwɛntʃ/verb C1
To satisfy a strong thirst by drinking. Or to put out a fire or stop it burning. In figurative use, to stop or suppress a feeling or desire.
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Quibble /ˈkwɪbəl/verb C1
To argue about small or unimportant details
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Quicken /ˈkwɪkən/verb B2
To make something go faster or happen more quickly
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Quiver /ˈkwɪvə(r)/verb B2
To shake slightly with quick, small movements
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Quaff /kwɒf/verb C2
To drink something in large amounts, usually with pleasure or enthusiasm
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Quaver /ˈkweɪvə/verb C2
To shake or waver, usually when speaking or singing
See all 13 verbs that start with "Q" →
Adjectives That Start With "Q" (12)
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Quick /kwɪk/adj A1
Fast or happening in a short amount of time.
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Quiet /ˈkwaɪət/adj A1
Having very little sound; calm and peaceful.
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Quarterly /ˈkwɔːrtərli/adj B2
Happening four times a year, every three months. A quarterly report means a report made every three months.
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Questionable /ˈkwɛstʃənəbəl/adj B2
Not definitely good or certainly true; open to doubt.
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Quintessential /ˌkwɪnˈtɛʃənəl/adj C2
The best example of what something truly is. When something shows all the most important features perfectly.
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Quaint /kweɪnt/adj B2
Something old-fashioned that looks charming or pleasant in a simple way
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Queasy /ˈkwiːzi/adj C1
Feeling sick to your stomach or uneasy and uncertain
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Queer /kwɪə/adj B2
Unusual, strange, or peculiar in a way that seems odd
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Quirky /ˈkwɜːki/adj B2
A little strange or unusual, but in a likeable way
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Qualitative /ˈkwɑːlɪteɪtɪv/adj C1
Describing what something is like (its qualities and characteristics) rather than how many or how much there is. About quality, not numbers.
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Quantitative /ˈkwɑːntɪteɪtɪv/adj C1
About amounts and numbers that can be measured and counted. Focused on 'how much' or 'how many' rather than describing what something is like.
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Quizzical /kwɪˈzɪkəl/adj C2
Showing a slightly confused or amused expression; asking a question
See all 12 adjectives that start with "Q" →
Adverbs That Start With "Q" (3)
How to Use Words That Start With "Q"
Scrabble and Word Games
In Scrabble and Words With Friends, words starting with "Q" can be valuable when you need to play through an existing tile on the board. Higher-tier letters like J, Q, X, and Z multiply your score quickly when stacked on bonus squares — scan the list below for short words that contain them. Two and three-letter words starting with "Q" are especially useful for parallel plays where you build along an existing word and earn points for every adjacent tile.
Crossword Puzzles
For crossword puzzles, the most useful entries are mid-length common words — 5 to 8 letters — that fit standard grid patterns. Filter the list by length to match the cells in your clue. Pay attention to the CEFR level: clues from mainstream newspapers favour B1–B2 vocabulary, while themed and cryptic puzzles draw on rarer C1 and C2 words. The IPA shown on each card also helps confirm a guess — a clue marked "two syllables" should match a word with a simple stress pattern.
Creative Writing and Poetry
Writers and poets often look for groups of words starting with "Q" to build alliteration, rhythm, or near-rhymes. Sort the list by length, scan the rare and C1+ words for fresh imagery, and use the linked dictionary entries to confirm connotation before you commit. The plain-English definitions are intentionally short so you can scan dozens of options without losing flow.
Longest Word That Start With "Q"
Frequently Asked Questions About Words That Start With "Q"
- How many words starting with "Q"?
- There are 1,480 words starting with "Q" in our 199,000-word English dictionary. The list ranges from common everyday words to rarer specialised vocabulary.
- What is the longest word starting with "Q"?
- The longest word starting with "Q" in our list is "QUADRAGENARIANS" — 15 letters long. Tap the word to see its full definition.
- Are these words valid in Scrabble?
- Most of the words in this list are valid in Scrabble and similar word games (we cross-reference standard tournament dictionaries). A handful of proper nouns and very rare technical terms may not be — when in doubt, double-check with the official Scrabble dictionary used in your league.
- How many 5-letter words starting with "Q"?
- 82 5-letter words starting with "Q" — useful for Wordle, daily puzzles, and short crosswords. Filter by length above to see only 5-letter results.