hurry

[hur-ee, huhr-ee]

verb (used without object)

hurried, hurrying 

1. to move, proceed, or act with haste (often followed byup ).

   Hurry, or we'll be late. Hurry up, it's starting to rain.

verb (used with object)

hurried, hurrying 

1. to drive, carry, or cause to move or perform with speed.

   Synonyms: hasten

2. to hasten; urge forward (often followed byup ).

   Synonyms: hustle, expedite, quicken, accelerate
   Antonyms: slow, delay

3. to impel or perform with undue haste.

   to hurry someone into a decision.

noun

plural

hurries 

1. a state of urgency or eagerness.

   to be in a hurry to meet a train.

2. hurried movement or action; haste.

   Synonyms: ado, bustle, quickness, speed, dispatch, expedition, celerity
   Antonyms: deliberation

hurry

/ ˈhʌrɪ /

verb

1. to hasten (to do something); rush

2. to speed up the completion, progress, etc, of

noun

1. haste

2. urgency or eagerness

3. informal

   1. easily

      you won't beat him in a hurry

   2. willingly

      we won't go there again in a hurry

Other Word Forms

• hurryingly adverb
• hurrying noun
• overhurry verb
• unhurrying adjective
• unhurryingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurry¹

First recorded in 1580–90; expressive word of uncertain origin, compare Middle English horyed (attested once) “rushed, impelled,” Middle High German hurren “to move quickly”

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurry¹

C16 horyen, probably of imitative origin; compare Middle High German hurren; see _scurry

Synonym Study

See rush ¹.

Example Sentences

Knowing how capable I am of throwing myself into another human being, I’m not in a hurry to go out there and discover if I can survive another relationship.

From Los Angeles Times

But his hurried throw had no chance to catch the speedy Vargas.

From Los Angeles Times

That kind of combination is likely to get England interested in a hurry.

From BBC

That came when he bowled quickly into the pitch and Turner was hurried.

From BBC

Rosa hurries to her aunt's house, hoping to catch the last of the daylight.

From BBC

Related Words

• dash 
• hasten 
• hustle 
• jog 
• rush 
• scoot 
• scurry 
• whirl 
• whisk 
• zip