There are a lot of distinctive and quirky nouns that start with Q which we can employ in our routines to sound more confident and assertive. Using the right words at the right time is a pivotal skill that will help you a lot more than you can imagine in your professional life. Nowadays more than anything the companies want employees who can communicate efficiently and concisely but we believe that’s not possible without a diverse and extensive vocabulary.
That’s why in this article we are going to make sure you learn a lot of new nouns beginning with Q along with their definitions, examples, and synonyms. For your convenience, we have categorized these nouns starting with Q from always used to seldom used. There are also two additional categories in which we’ll go through some positive nouns and nouns that we can use to describe someone.
These two categories can help us in our day-to-day communication to pay someone a compliment or describe someone’s good traits and much more. Positive nouns that start with Q will also allow you to convey bad news soothingly. So, without further ado let’s see this list of nouns that start with Q.
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Table of Contents
Nouns That Start with Q You Always Use
Some nouns that start with Q somehow manage to always become a part of our conversations. So, in this section, we’ll briefly examine some of these nouns.
- Definition: a person who dishonestly claims to have special knowledge and skill in some field, typically medicine
- Synonyms: swindler, fraud, impostor, trickster
- Example: That quack doesn’t know anything about treating heart disease.
2. Quad
- Definition: a square or rectangular outside area with buildings on all four sides, often part of the land of a college or university
- Synonyms: quadrant, courtyard, enclosure
- Example: Meet me in the quad at lunch.
3. Quadrant
- Definition: one of four rectangular areas that a coordinate plane is divided into, or, each of four parts of a plane, sphere, space, or body divided by two lines or planes at right angles
- Synonyms: quad, section, portion, division
- Example: The town is in the northwest quadrant of the state.
4. Quail
- Definition: a small short-tailed old world game bird resembling a tiny partridge, typically having brown camouflaged plumage
- Synonyms: bird, aves, galliforms
- Example: The quail lays fifteen or twenty eggs and they are white.
5. Quake
- Definition: an earthquake
- Synonyms: earth tremor, shock, foreshock
- Example: We felt a quake in the apartment every time the train went by.
6. Qualification
- Definition: a pass of an examination or an official completion of a course, especially one conferring status as a recognized practitioner of a profession or activity
- Synonyms: certificate, diploma, degree, license
- Example: I left school at 15 with no qualifications.
7. Quid
- Definition: one-pound sterling
- Synonyms: British pound, pound sterling, pence
- Example: We paid him four hundred quid for the job.
8. Quiescence
- Definition: inactivity or dormancy
- Synonyms: lifelessness, slothfulness
- Example: This method has been shown to induce sleep-like quiescence in adult animals.
9. Qualm
- Definition: an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear, especially about one’s conduct; a misgiving
- Synonyms: misgiving, doubt, second thought, worry
- Example: A qualm came over me.
10. Quantity
- Definition: the amount or number of a material or abstract thing not usually estimated by spatial measurement
- Synonyms: amount, number, total, aggregate
- Example: The quantity and quality of the fruit can be controlled.
Nouns That Start with Q You Usually Use
While reading this list, make sure that you filter out nouns starting with Q that you find compatible with your writing style. Here are few more nouns which are repeatedly used during communication.
- Definition: a heated argument or disagreement, typically about a trivial issue and between people who are usually on good terms
- Synonyms: argument, fight, disagreement, the difference of opinion
- Example: She made the mistake of picking a quarrel with John.
2. Quarry
- Definition: an animal pursued by a hunter, hound, predatory mammal, or bird of prey
- Synonyms: prey, victim, goal, target
- Example: Grouse is not an easy quarry for a hawk.
3. Quart
- Definition: a unit of liquid capacity equal to a quarter of a gallon or two pints, equivalent in Britain to approximately 1.13 liters and in the US to approximately 0.94 liters
- Synonyms: thirty-two-ounces, one-fourth-gallon, dry-quart, two-pints
- Example: There is a quart of milk left in the pail.
4. Quarter
- Definition: a part of a town or city having a particular character or use
- Synonyms: district, area, region, precinct, locality
- Example: I visited a beautiful port city with a fascinating medieval quarter last summer.
5. Quarterback
- Definition: a player stationed behind the center who directs teams offensive play
- Synonyms: field-general, signal-caller, barker
- Example: He wanted to be a pro quarterback.
6. Quarterfinal
- Definition: a match or round of a knockout competition that precedes the semi-final
- Synonyms: final eight, playoff, match, quarter-section
- Example: After the rounds, the top 2 clans from each division will go into the quarterfinal stage.
7. Query
- Definition: a question, especially one expressing doubt or requesting information
- Synonyms: question, inquiry doubt, uncertainty, interrogate
- Example: If you have any queries, please telephone our office.
8. Quenelle
- Definition: a small seasoned ball of pounded fish or meat
- Synonyms: made into an oval or egg shape
- Example: We shape the mixture into quenelles before cooking.
9. Question
- Definition: a sentence worded or expressed to elicit information
- Synonyms: inquiry, query, ask, question mark
- Example: We hope this leaflet has been helpful in answering your questions.
10. Questionnaire
- Definition: a set of printed or written questions with a choice of answers, devised for the purposes of a survey or statistical study
- Synonyms: question sheet, set of questions, quiz, exam
- Example: Much remains to be learned about how respondents go about answering written questionnaires.
Nouns That Start with Q You Often Use
Now let’s see nouns that begin with the letter Q which we often use while writing anything formal or informal. We are sure that you will come across these nouns beginning with Q several times.
- Definition: the liquid metal mercury
- Synonyms: volatile, capricious, temperamental, excitable
- Example: Mercury has long been known also by the name quicksilver because it is a silver liquid.
2. Quietness
- Definition: absence of noise or bustle; calm
- Synonyms: silence, calm, peace, tranquility
- Example: The stillness and the quietness of the house is excruciating.
3. Quill
- Definition: any of the main wing or tail feathers of a bird
- Synonyms: feather, crest, quill pen, plume
- Example: Outside the banquet hall there was a small oak table, upon which rested a yellowed parchment and a droopy quill of some exotic bird.
4. Quilt
- Definition: a warm bed covering made of padding enclosed between layers of fabric and kept in place by lines of stitching, typically applied in a decorative design
- Synonyms: duvet, continental quilt, counterpane, bedspread
- Example: The roof space should be insulated with a glass-fiber quilt at least 10.0 mm thick.
5. Quince
- Definition: a hard, acid pear-shaped fruit used in preserves or as flavoring
- Synonyms: quince-bush, Cydonia-oblonga, pear
- Example: The French Paradise is the best dwarfing stock for apples and the quince for pears.
6. Quitter
- Definition: a person who gives up easily or does not have the courage or determination to finish a task
- Synonyms: deserter, coward, defeatist, wimp
- Example: He is not a quitter!
7. Quiver
- Definition: a slight trembling movement or sound, especially one caused by a sudden strong emotion
- Synonyms: tremble, shake, shiver, quaver, quake
- Example: There was a quiver in her handshake.
8. Quiz
- Definition: a test of knowledge, especially as a competition between individuals or teams as a form of entertainment
- Synonyms: test of knowledge, competition, quiz game, questionnaire
- Example: The sports trivia quiz isn’t all that bad.
9. Quota
- Definition: a fixed share of something that a person or group is entitled to receive or is bound to contribute
- Synonyms: portion, division, allowance, allocation
- Example: The county is falling short of its quota of blood donations.
10. Quotation
- Definition: a group of words taken from a text or speech and repeated by someone other than the original author or speaker
- Synonyms: citation, quote, reference, mention
- Example: My quotation is taken from “Hamlet”.
Nouns That Start with Q You Sometimes Use
Not all the nouns that start with the letter Q are routinely used in our life, there are always exceptions. So, from here on forward we’ll see nouns that are used less frequently. Let’s have a look at some of these.
- Definition: a result obtained by dividing one quantity by another
- Synonyms: answer, solution, division, the remainder
- Example: The quotient of 27 and 3 is 9.
2. Quadric
- Definition: a quadric surface or curve
- Synonyms: curve, curved shape, hyperboloid
- Example: His work in geometry included a study of conics, quadrics and projective geometry.
3. Quaffer
- Definition: one who quaffs a beverage
- Synonyms: drunkard, drinker, drunk, sot
- Example: In either case, the quaffer is not the only beneficiary.
4. Quahaug
- Definition: a large, rounded edible clam of the Atlantic coast of North America
- Synonyms: hard-shell clam, hard clam, round clam
- Example: No one wanted the smaller ocean quahaug until the 1970s.
5. Quartet
- Definition: a group of four people playing music or singing together
- Synonyms: group, band, orchestra, four-voices
- Example: He believes that you increase your understanding by playing in small ensembles – trios, quartets, and quintets.
6. Quartic
- Definition: a quartic equation
- Synonyms: fourth-power function, curve, surface
- Example: The quartic has four equal roots.
7. Querier
- Definition: a person who asks a question
- Synonyms: enquirer, questioner, inquirer, investigator
- Example: The querier requests the object in the area protecting his/her location from the server.
8. Quran
- Definition: the Islamic sacred book
- Synonyms: holy-book, koran
- Example: The Quran is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God.
9. Quizzer
- Definition: a person who asks someone questions
- Synonyms: persecutor, investigator, interrupter, interviewer
- Example: He managed to impress his daunting quizzers at the final interview.
10. Quicklime
- Definition: calcium oxide (Cao), a white, caustic, alkaline, crystalline solid at room temperature
- Synonyms: calcium-oxide, calx, calcined-lime, burnt-lime
- Example: Quicklime should not be used, as it dispels the greater part of the ammonia.
Nouns That Start with Q You Occasionally Use
Words can cut deeper than a sword but they can also heal your wounds especially the Using out-of-the-ordinary nouns with letter Q can assist us in leaving a good impression on others and develop a strong yet unique vocabulary. Given below are few such nouns.
- Definition: the inherent nature or essence of someone or something
- Synonyms: quintessence, soul, spirit, nature,
- Example: John’s genius was his ability to render a person’s quiddity in a single portrait.
2. Quidnunc
- Definition: an inquisitive and gossipy person
- Synonyms: scandalmonger, gossipmonger, tattler
- Example: The town’s biggest quidnunc, Nancy loved to gossip about other people’s personal lives.
3. Quietism
- Definition: (in the Christian faith) devotional contemplation and abandonment of the will as a form of religious mysticism
- Synonyms: cabala, cabalism, pietism, spiritualism
- Example: Buddhism and Christianity are not the only traditions enunciating the virtues of quietism.
4. Quietist
- Definition: a religious mystic who follows quietism
- Synonyms: mystic, religious mystic
- Example: He conducted a census of the Quietists.
5. Quietude
- Definition: a state of stillness, calmness, and quiet in a person or place
- Synonyms: peacefulness, calm, tranquility, serenity
- Example: Because of this quietude, the rustle in the brush behind me sounded like a shot through the lazy summer air.
6. Quilting
- Definition: the making of quilts as a craft or leisure activity
- Synonyms: needlepoint, needlecraft, blackwork, crocheting, darning, knitting, stitching
- Example: Quilting is her passion.
7. Quisling
- Definition: a traitor who collaborates with an enemy force occupying their country
- Synonyms: collaborator, fraternizer, colluder, sympathizer
- Example: Hanging his head in shame, the spineless quisling was exiled from his country for treason.
8. Quartette
- Definition: a set of four people or things
- Synonyms: quartet, quadruplet, quadruple, foursome
- Example: He appeared in public as a violinist, taking part in Chappell’s quartette concerts, and starting a set of classical concerts.
9. Quartzite
- Definition: an extremely compact, hard, granular rock consisting essentially of quartz
- Synonyms: gemstone, gravestone, contestation, silica
- Example: Quartzite is formed under high pressure and temperature.
10. Queerness
- Definition: the person who is gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual or otherwise not heterosexual
- Synonyms: homosexual, homoeroticism, gayness, oddity
- Example: Madonna is also referred to as a queer icon and icon of queerness.
Nouns That Start with Q You Seldom Use
Depending upon our environment and cultural values it becomes typical for us to use the same words frequently. That’s why in this list we’ll briefly examine noun words that start with Q. You will come across a lot of unique noun words starting with Q in this segment.
1. Quiche
- Definition: a baked flan or tart with a savory filling thickened with eggs, usually eaten cold
- Synonyms: pastry, flan, tartlet, strudel
- Example: I rustled up a few quiches.
2. Quadrilateral
- Definition: a four-sided figure
- Synonyms: parallelogram, square, rectangle
- Example: Rhombus is also a type of quadrilateral.
3. Quinsy
- Definition: inflammation of the throat, especially an abscess in the region of the tonsils
- Synonyms: per tonsillar abscess, tonsillitis, sore throat
- Example: My quinsy has altogether left me, and my blood flows strong after the rest.
4. Qabalah
- Definition: the ancient Jewish tradition of mystical interpretation of the bible, first transmitted orally and using esoteric methods (including ciphers) it reached the height of its influence in the later middle ages and remains significant in Hasidism
- Synonyms: kabbalah, cabbala, cabala
- Example: Subjects dealt with in this series include the occult, the tarot, and Hermetic Qabalah.
5. Quassia
- Definition: a South American shrub or small tree related to ailanthus
- Synonyms: wood, bark, root, bitter-wood tree
- Example: Quassia continues to be used in industrially produced medicines against intestinal parasites today.
6. Queenship
- Definition: the rank and dignity of being a queen
- Synonyms: greatness, eminence, supremacy
- Example: Her path to queenship was a difficult one.
7. Quadrate
- Definition: a plane surface with four equal sides and four right angles
- Synonyms: square
- Example: He drew a quadrate on the sheet.
8. Quadroon
- Definition: a person having one-fourth of black ancestry
- Synonyms: mix blood, half breed, half-caste
- Example: The species now and then intermingle, and they each have their quadroons and their mutants.
9. Quaestor
- Definition: (in ancient Rome) any of a number of officials who had charge of public revenue and expenditure
- Synonyms: officer, cashier, comptroller, financier
- Example: An additional task of all quaestors was the supervision of public games.
10. Quagmire
- Definition: a soft boggy area of land that gives way underfoot
- Synonyms: swamp, morass, bog, marsh
- Example: Torrential rain turned the building site into a quagmire.
Positive Nouns That Start with Q
Positive words if used right can help us develop a deep emotional connection with almost anyone. The importance of positive nouns that start with Q is inarguable that’s why we have compiled a separate section for these nouns.
1. Quaff
- Definition: an enjoyable beverage: a beverage (such as wine) that is quaffed or suitable for quaffing
- Synonyms: drink, alcohols, fluid, beverage
- Example: There is no better quaff with fried chicken than Champagne.
2. Quote
- Definition: a quotation from a text or speech
- Synonyms: quotation, citation, reference
- Example: Inspirational quotes help me focus on my goals.
3. Quintessence
- Definition: the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class
- Synonyms: exemplar, prototype, picture
- Example: He was the quintessence of political professionalism.
4. Quality
- Definition: the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something
- Synonyms: standard, grade, class, classification, level
- Example: These marketing orders control the quality of the fruit we supply.
5. Quickstep
- Definition: a lively spirited march or dance
- Synonyms: quick march, quickstep march
- Example: However, many of the dance techniques remained in other forms of dance such as the Foxtrot (danced competitively) and the aptly named Quickstep.
6. Queen
- Definition: the female ruler of an independent state, especially one who inherits the position by right of birth
- Synonyms: monarch, head of state, ruler, Her Majesty
- Example: He insisted the princess should be crowned queen.
7. Queenhood
- Definition: the rank, dignity, or state of being of a queen
- Synonyms: majesty, queen-ship, imperialism, royalty
- Example: It was only upon the completion of the marriage that queenhood and thus legitimacy was bestowed.
8. Quest
- Definition: a long or arduous search for something
- Synonyms: search, hunt, pursuit, journey, seek
- Example: The quest for a reliable vaccine has intensified.
9. Quickness
- Definition: the quality of moving fast or doing something in a short time
- Synonyms: agility, haste, speed, rapidness
- Example: He is a pro athlete with outstanding quickness and agility.
10. Quip
- Definition: a witty remark
- Synonyms: joke, witty remark, jest, pun
- Example: Peter ate heartily with a quip about being a condemned man.
Nouns That Start with Q to Describe a Person
Last but not least are few nouns that start with Q to describe a person. We can use these Q nouns to compliment or highlights someone’s negatives traits. So, let’s jump right at them.
1. Quarryman
- Definition: a worker in a quarry
- Synonyms: worker, navy, stonemason, miner
- Example: The church was built to serve the local miners, quarrymen, and railway navies.
2. Quarrier
- Definition: a worker in a quarry
- Synonyms: worker, quarryman, navy, stonemason
- Example: The Pennsylvania Bluestone Association has 105 members, the vast majority of them are quarriers.
3. Qualifier
- Definition: a person or team that qualifies for a competition or its final rounds
- Synonyms: modifier, changer, the frontrunner
- Example: The final match of the evening saw the in-form John White take on England’s qualifier Adrian Grant.
4. Quarreler
- Definition: a disputant who quarrels
- Synonyms: disputant, controversialist, combatant, competitor
- Example: He is not a quarreler; he always prefers peace and tranquility.
5. Quibbler
- Definition: a disputant who quibbles
- Synonyms: caviler, caviller, pettifogger
- Example: Quibblers need to change their mindset for a peaceful life.
6. Querist
- Definition: a person who asks questions; a questioner
- Synonyms: asker, enquirer, inquirer, a questioner
- Example: The querist proceeded to elicit from this Galloway Phoebus what their discourse chiefly turned upon.
7. Quick
- Definition: a very tender area of flesh (as under a fingernail)
- Synonyms: soft flesh, sensitive area
- Example: He’s bitten his nails to the quick.
8. Quester
- Definition: someone making a search or inquiry
- Synonyms: inquirer, inquisitor, investigator, prober
- Example: One of the most appealing things about the questers in The Wizard of Oz is that they already possessed what they sought.
9. Quaker
- Definition: a member of the religious society of friends, a Christian movement founded by George Fox c. 1650 and devoted to peaceful principles
- Synonyms: (none)
- Example: MARIA MITCHELL, the American astronomer, was born of Quaker ancestry.
10. Quoter
- Definition: a communicator (speaker or writer) who uses quotations
- Synonyms: communicator, referrer, repeater, acknowledger
- Example: The Bible quoters will try to fight the subject.
Nouns That Start with Q – Full List (124 Words)
- Quartic
- Quenelle
- Quinoa
- Quarrier
- Querier
- Quacksalver
- Quiet
- Quiche
- Quadcopter
- Quatrain
- Quintet
- Quarrel
- Quad
- Quarry
- Quick
- Quizzer
- Quorum
- Quagmire
- Quern
- Quirt
- Quilting
- Qiblah
- Quotient
- Quickstep
- Quidditch
- Quarter
- Quiver
- Quintessence
- Quoit
- Quid
- Quay
- Query
- Quality
- Quarterback
- Quackery
- Quadrate
- Quran
- Quiescence
- Quiz
- Quantity
- Quahaug
- Quarantine
- Quotation
- Quip
- Quadrangle
- Quartet
- Quillet
- Question
- Quarterfinal
- Quaver
- Quaintisiness
- Quartz
- Quaker
- Quicksand
- Quassia
- Quietism
- Quill
- Quadriceps
- Quack
- Questionnaire
- Quickness
- Quicksilver
- Quota
- Quail
- Quibbler
- Quilt
- Queue
- Quart
- Questionaire
- Quidnunc
- Quoter
- Quaintise
- Quinine
- Quietude
- Quest
- Queenhood
- Quadrilateral
- Qualifier
- Quartermaster
- Quadrant
- Quintuplets
- Quaff
- Quetzal
- Quaffer
- Quarrymen
- Quester
- Qualification
- Quarryman
- Querist
- Qualm
- Quadroon
- Queen
- Quinsy
- Queenship
- Quadrille
- Quietness
- Quixotism
- Quartette
- Queasiness
- Quadruped
- Quaestor
- Quantum
- Quirk
- Quarreler
- Quicklime
- Quote
- Quod
- Quake
- Quartzite
- Quitter
- Queerness
- Quickie
- Quibble
- Quisling
- Quince
- Quandary
- Quadric
- Quiddity
- Quark
- Quietist
- Quire
- Qabalah
- Quintain
- Questioner
Final Thoughts on Nouns That Start with Q
We know that this list of nouns that start with Q is a bit prolonged but who said you have to learn them all. The thing about humans is that we tend to overestimate what we can do in a day and underestimate what we can do in a year. So, don’t be over-whelmed by this list of nouns beginning with Q, because even if you just learn one new word per day and try to use it in your routine it will make a total of 365 new words in one year.
So, with little long-term effort, you will be able to develop a matchless personal lexicon.
We hope you were able to find some new and handy nouns starting with Q. Do you also know about some other staggering nouns that start with Q? If, yes then do tell us about them in the comment section.