98 Nouns That Start with Q [with Definitions and Examples]

The utilization of nouns to identify objects in our lives is endless, especially of nouns that start with Q. There are hundreds of nouns starting with Q that you might be completely unaware of, and this article is a great place to start if you want to read about them. For your convenience, a list of nouns that start with Q is given in this article.

Q, or q, is the seventeenth letter of the modern English alphabet and the ISO basic Latin alphabet. Its name in English is cue, plural cues. One out of every 510 letters in English words is a Q, making it the least common letter in the English alphabet, according to an Oxford English Dictionary analysis.

Nouns beginning with Q are not that common, hence learning some of them will help you in both written and oral communications. This article will also list of nouns that start with Q to describe a person, place and abstract concepts. Now let’s go through the categories of nouns that start with Q one by one, which have been provided in this article.

Table of Contents

Nouns That Start with Q You Always Use

Words for all sorts of things including imaginary things and abstract concepts are nouns. If we didn’t have nouns, we couldn’t talk about anything in particular. Following are some of the nouns that start with Q that we use regularly in our lives.

1. Question

Definition: a sentence or phrase used to find out information
Synonyms: query, inquiry, inquest

Example: Why won’t you answer my question?

2. Quantity

Definition: the amount or number of something
Synonyms: sum, bulk, extent

Example: We consumed vast quantities of food and drink that night.

3. Quarrel

Definition: a heated argument or disagreement, typically about a trivial issue and between people who are usually on good term
Synonyms: argument, combat, dispute

Example: She made the mistake of picking a quarrel with John.

4. Quote

Definition: a quotation from a text or speech
Synonyms: extract, citation, excerpt
Example: Support your answer with a quote from the text.

5. Quarter

Definition: one of four equal or almost equal parts of something
Synonyms: fourth, quad, quadrant
Example: He cut the orange into quarters.

6. Queue

Definition: a line or sequence of people or vehicles awaiting their turn to be attended to or to proceed
Synonyms: line, order, succession
Example: Are you in the queue for tickets?

7. Quota

Definition: a fixed, limited amount or number that is officially allowed

Synonyms: allotment, apportionment, proportion
Example: The country now has a quota on immigration.

8. Query

Definition: a question, especially one expressing doubt or requesting information
Synonyms: challenge, examination, inquiry
Example: If you have any queries, please telephone our office.

9. Quiz

Definition: a short, informal test
Synonyms: exam, examination, test
Example: There was a pop quiz in history at school today.

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: survey, poll, canvas
Example: Visitors to the country have been asked to fill in a detailed questionnaire.

Nouns That Start with Q You Usually Use

A complete English sentence at least needs a subject, and somewhere down in there you’ll find a noun as well because it is a necessity for the complete expression of thoughts. Following are some of the nouns starting with Q that we usually use in our writings and conversations.

1. Quadriceps

Definition: a large muscle in the front of the thigh that is divided into four parts
Synonyms: muscle, tendon
Example: He is recovering from surgery on his quadriceps in his left leg.

2. Quietness

Definition: absence of noise or bustle; calm
Synonyms: hush, quiet, silence
Example: I enjoyed the quietness of the early morning.

3. Quotation

Definition: words or phrases taken from someone else’s writing
Synonyms: citation, excerpt, passage
Example: He finished his speech with a quotation from Shakespeare.

4. Quake

Definition: an earthquake
Synonyms: aftershock, jitter, quiver, earthquake

Example: The quake destroyed mud buildings in many remote villages.

5. Qualifier

Definition: a team or person who has won part of a competition and is therefore competing in the next part of it
Synonyms: participant, expectant, hopeful
Example: The qualifiers from the first round will advance to the quarter final.

6. Quitter

Definition: a person who gives up easily or does not have the courage or determination to finish a task
Synonyms: chicken, coward, deserter
Example: He’s no quitter.

7. Quarantine

Definition: a general period of time in which people are not allowed to leave their homes or travel freely, so that they do not catch or spread a disease
Synonyms: confinement, restriction, isolation
Example: I’ve been doing a lot of baking during quarantine.

8. Qualification

Definition: an ability, characteristic, or experience that makes you suitable for a particular job or activity
Synonyms: capability, competence, skill
Example: One of the qualifications you need to work here is a sense of humor!

9. Quid

Definition: one pound sterling
Synonyms: pound, money, dollar

Example: She earns at least 600 quid a week.

10. Quest

Definition: a long or arduous search for something
Synonyms: search, hunt, pursuit
Example: The quest for a reliable vaccine has intensified.

Nouns That Start with Q You Often Use

If we didn’t have nouns we wouldn’t have been able to express our feelings. Hence there is a separate category of nouns for such abstract concepts. Following is a list of nouns starting with Q that we often use in our daily lives.

1. Quintuplets

Definition: any of five children born at the same time to the same mother
Synonyms: five, quintet, fivesome
Example: She is expecting quintuplets.

2. Quadrangle

Definition: a flat shape with four straight sides
Synonyms: quadrilateral, quad, parallelogram
Example: Squares and rectangles are forms of quadrangles.

3. Quartermaster

Definition: an officer charged with providing quarters, clothing, fuel, transportation, etc., for a body of troops
Synonyms: commissioned-officer, commissariat, supplier
Example: The quartermaster was a very strict man.

4. Quintet

Definition: a group of five people playing music, or singing together
Synonyms: band, troupe, fivesome

Example: A jazz quintet played hypnotic Chicago blues.

5. Quotient

Definition: a particular degree or amount of something
Synonyms: division, outcome, computation
Example: The Island has a high quotient of clergymen.

6. Quartz

Definition: a hard, transparent mineral substance, used in making electronic equipment and accurate watches and clocks
Synonyms: stone, amethyst, gem
Example: There is a great deal quartz in those mountains.

7. Quarterback

Definition: an offensive back in football who usually lines up behind the center, calls the signals, and directs the offensive play of the team
Synonyms: commander, captain, director
Example: Tom Brady is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

8. Quad

Definition: a square space outside with buildings on all four sides, especially in a school or college
Synonyms: quadrangle, courtyard, enclosure
Example: The assembly was held in the quad.

9. Quadruped

Definition: an animal which has four feet, especially an ungulate mammal
Synonyms: quadrupedal, four-footed

Example: Horses, lions and dogs are quadrupeds, but humans are bipeds

10. Quiver

Definition: a slight trembling movement or sound, especially one caused by a sudden strong emotion
Synonyms: flutter, jerk, shudder
Example: She couldn’t help the quiver in her voice.

Nouns That Start with Q You Sometimes Use

Although there are some nouns that exist in our knowledge, they are not used by us too often. Below is a list of such nouns beginning with Q.

1. Quilt

Definition: a decorative cover for a bed
Synonyms: bedspread, comforter, duvet
Example: He picked apart an old quilt.

2. Quirk

Definition: a peculiar aspect of a person’s character or behavior
Synonyms: aberration, eccentricity, idiosyncrasy
Example: They accepted her attitude as one of her little quirks.

3. Quadrant

Definition: a quarter of an area
Synonyms: quad, quarter, segment
Example: The River runs through the southwest quadrant of the city.

4. Quaker

Definition: a member of the Religious Society of Friends, a Christian movement founded by George Fox
Synonyms: acolyte, Christian, amish

Example: The Quakers have set up a prayer meeting in his house.

5. Queerness

Definition: a strange attitude or habit; oddity
Synonyms: oddness, quirkiness, peculiarity
Example: I credit his queerness to his solitude.

6. Quart

Definition: a unit of measure for 1/4 gallon of liquids
Synonyms: cup, gallon, gill
Example: There is a quart of milk left in the pail.

7. Qualm

Definition: an uneasy feeling of doubt, worry, or fear, especially about one’s own conduct
Synonyms: anxiety, apprehension, uneasiness
Example: Military regimes generally have no qualms about controlling the press.

8. Quinsy

Definition: inflammation of the throat, especially an abscess in the region of the tonsils
Synonyms: cough, rasp, hack

Example: Because of quinsy, he didn’t come out of home much.

9. Quandary

Definition: a state of perplexity or uncertainty over what to do in a difficult situation
Synonyms: plight, dilemma, predicament
Example: Kate was in a quandary.

10. Quarterfinal

Definition: one of the rounds of matches preceding the semifinals
Synonyms: game, tournament, matchup
Example: Pakistan qualified for the quarterfinal after beating Australia.

Nouns That Start with Q You Occasionally Use

Some nouns require a proper occasion or a context to get used or uttered. Following are some of the noun words that start with Q that we only use occasionally.

1. Quibbler

Definition: a disputant who quibbles; someone who raises annoying petty objections
Synonyms: caviler, pettifogger
Example: Anthony was a quibbler by nature.

2. Quatrain

Definition: a stanza of four lines, especially one having alternate rhymes.
Synonyms: stanza, composition
Example: A sonnet contains three quatrains and a couplet.

3. Quinine

Definition: a drug used to treat fevers such as malaria
Synonyms: medicine, tablet, drug,
Example: Feverish patients were dosed with quinine.

4. Quack

Definition: a person who dishonestly pretends to have medical skills
Synonyms: charlatan, cheat, fraud
Example: She discovered that the man was a quack.

5. Quran

Definition: the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims believe to be a revelation from God
Synonyms: scripture, Koran
Example: Islamic orthodoxy insist that the Quran is the uncreated speech or word of Allah.

6. Quail

Definition: a small, brown bird that is shot for sport or food, or the meat of this bird
Synonyms: bird, fowl
Example: Large numbers of quails were shot this morning.

7. Quagmire

Definition: an awkward, complex, or hazardous situation
Synonyms: muddle, mess, predicament
Example: The country has sunk deeper into a quagmire of violence and lawlessness.

8. Quibble

Definition: a slight objection or criticism about a trivial matter
Synonyms: objection, complaint, evasion
Example: The only quibble about this book is the price.

9. Quorum

Definition: the number of members who must be present at a meeting in order for decisions to be officially made
Synonyms: attendance, presence, majority
Example: If a quorum is not present, the meeting must not go ahead.

10. Queasiness

Definition: the state of being nauseous
Synonyms: nausea, sickness, disgust
Example: I have been feeling an unbearable queasiness.

Nouns That Start with Q You Seldom Use

It is a commonly believed view that most of us have a limited amount of nouns at our disposal. The more one reads the more he gets to know about things. Following are some of the nouns that start with the letter Q that people seldom come across.

1. Quark

Definition: a type of low-fat curd cheese
Synonyms: cheese, cream, emmental
Example: There are six distinct flavors of quark.

2. Quacksalver

Definition: one falsely claiming to possess medical or other skills
Synonyms: humbug, imposter
Example: Stop going to that quacksalver if you want to get better.

3. Quay

Definition: a stone or metal platform lying alongside or projecting into water for loading and unloading ships
Synonyms: dock, wharf, pier
Example: The quay at the head of Sydney Cove is 1300 feet long.

4. Quintain

Definition: an object mounted on a post, used as a target in the medieval sport of tilting
Synonyms: target, mark, spot
Example: He kept shooting at the quintain but couldn’t hit it once.

5. Quoit

Definition: a game in which you throw rings over a small post, often played on ships
Synonyms: recreation, game, activity
Example: Monday is the traditional day for quoits between the local teams.

6. Quadcopter

Definition: an unmanned helicopter having four rotors
Synonyms: drone, quadrotor
Example: Quadcopters were also involved in transferring supplies to the survivors.

7. Quarry

Definition: a person or animal being hunted or looked for
Synonyms: hunt, pursuit, chase
Example: The dogs pursued their quarry into an empty warehouse.

8. Qiblah

Definition: the direction of the Kaaba (the sacred building at Mecca), to which Muslims turn at prayer
Synonyms: west, Kaaba, westward,
Example: The buildings discovered include three mosques, with their Qiblah and Mihrab.

9. Quire

Definition: four sheets of paper folded to make 16 pages
Synonyms: paper, ledger, sketchpad
Example: The package contained two quires of tracing paper.

10. Quiche

Definition: a dish baked in a pastry shell with various ingredients
Synonyms: pie, pastry, tart
Example: The quiche can be served hot or cold.

Nouns That Start with Q You Rarely Use

If you are a non-native English speaker then this category of nouns will charm you the most because you might be seeing most of these nouns for the very first time. Following are some of the Q-nouns that we rarely use in our daily lives.

1. Quadrille

Definition: a dance in which four pairs of dancers dance together
Synonyms: twirl, spin, dance
Example: A party of enthusiasts danced a quadrille on a flat rock.

2. Quince

Definition: a golden, hard, apple-shaped fruit from a small tree
Synonyms: fruit, pome
Example: I was served Brazilian Dessert with guava and quince.

3. Quern

Definition: a simple device for grinding grain between two heavy circular stones
Synonyms: grinder, mill
Example: Neolithic peoples used stone querns to grind the hulled grains.

4. Quill

Definition: a pen made from a bird’s feather, used in the past
Synonyms: feather, pen, plume
Example: She dipped a quill in ink, then began to write.

5. Quicksand

Definition: a deep, semifluid deposit of sand where a heavy object may be engulfed
Synonyms: quagmire, snare, trap
Example: The sandbank was uncertain, like quicksand under his feet.

6. Quod

Definition: prison where convicted criminals go if they’re caught
Synonyms: jail, cell, dungeon
Example: The thief got locked up in the quod for his crimes.

7. Quisling

Definition: a person who collaborates with the enemy
Synonyms: traitor, defector, deserter
Example: Labeling someone a quisling proves you don’t like Norwegians?

8. Quinoa

Definition: the seeds of a South American plant that are cooked and eaten as food
Synonyms: seed, grain, cereal
Example: You should be able to find quinoa at most stores.

9. Quixotism

Definition: quixotic character or practice; form of delusion which leads to extravagant and absurd undertakings or sacrifices
Synonyms: idealism, fantasy, utopianism
Example: He went in softly, less impatient than usual with her crazy quixotism.

10. Quicksilver

Definition: the liquid metal mercury
Synonyms: mercury, ore, metal
Example: Small quantities of quicksilver, Sulphur and Iron were mixed together in the lab.

Positive Nouns That Start with Q

Some words do embody certain positive message that we as speakers realize as soon as we see or use them. These are some of the positive nouns that start with Q.

1. Quip

Definition: a witty remark
Synonyms: joke, jest, pun
Example: Peter ate heartily with a quip about being a condemned man.

2. Quietude

Definition: a state of stillness, calmness, and quiet in a person or place
Synonyms: calmness, peacefulness
Example: In many of his poems the poet reflects on the quietude of the countryside.

3. Quality

Definition: the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something
Synonyms: standard, class, caliber
Example: Their products are of very high quality.

4. Quester

Definition: a person engaged in a quest
Synonyms: seeker, wanderer, explorer
Example: The quester was in search of a companion to accompany him towards his destination.

5. Quiddity

Definition: the inherent nature or essence of someone or something
Synonyms: crotchet, curiosity, essence
Example: It’s just part of his quiddities and quirks.

6. Quintessence

Definition: the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class
Synonyms: exemplar, prototype, stereotype
Example: Her book captures the quintessence of Renaissance humanism.

7. Queen

Definition: the female ruler of an independent state, especially one who inherits the position by right of birth
Synonyms: ruler, monarch, nobility
Example: Lady Diana was a queen of the people.

8. Quaff

Definition: an alcoholic drink
Synonyms: booze, alcohol
Example: They spent the evening drinking quaff.

9. Quickness

Definition: the quality of moving fast or doing something in a short time
Synonyms: fastness, rapidness, agility
Example: He is an athlete with outstanding quickness and agility.

10. Quillet

Definition: a small plot or narrow strip of land
Synonyms: land, area, plot
Example: He grew dozens of kilos of cauliflower on the quillet he owned.

Nouns That Start with Q – Full List (98 words)

Qiblah
Quack
Quackery
Quacksalver
Quad
Quadcopter
Quadrangle
Quadrant
Quadric
Quadriceps
Quadrille
Quadruped
Quaff
Quagmire
Quail
Quaintise
Quaintisiness
Quake
Quaker
Qualification
Qualifier
Quality
Qualm
Quandary
Quantity
Quantum
Quarantine
Quark
Quarrel
Quarry
Quarrymen
Quart
Quarter
Quarterback
Quarterfinal
Quartermaster
Quartet
Quartz
Quatrain
Quaver
Quay
Queasiness
Queen
Queenhood
Queerness
Querist
Quern
Query
Quest
Quester
Question
Questionaire
Questioner
Questionnaire
Quetzal
Queue
Quibble
Quibbler
Quiche
Quick
Quickie
Quickness
Quicksand
Quicksilver
Quickstep
Quid
Quidditch
Quiddity
Quiet
Quietness
Quietude
Quill
Quillet
Quilt
Quince
Quinine
Quinoa
Quinsy
Quintain
Quintessence
Quintet
Quintuplets
Quip
Quire
Quirk
Quirt
Quitter
Quiver
Quixotism
Quiz
Quod
Quoit
Quorum
Quota
Quotation
Quote
Quotient
Quran

Final Thoughts on Nouns That Start with Q

It’s difficult to write a sentence that does not include at least one noun. Almost every language contains some assigned part of speech, the members of which provide either verbal or written means of identifying people, places, things or ideas. A one-word command like “Stop!” is a sentence made of one verb, but in order to communicate more complex ideas you need nouns as well.

In this article, you would have come across a number of different types of nouns starting with Q. As an exercise, you can add new nouns that start with Q into each of the above given categories which will help you broaden your encyclopedia of nouns. Nouns beginning with Q are not that common, hence it is advised that you go through this article several times and try to memorize as many nouns as possible.