flurry

[ flur-ee, fluhr-ee ]

noun

, plural flur·ries.

1. a light, brief shower of snow.
2. sudden commotion, excitement, or confusion; nervous hurry:

   There was a flurry of activity before the guests arrived.

   Synonyms: ado, fluster, fuss, to-do, stir, pother, upset

3. Stock Exchange.
   1. a brief rise or fall in prices.
   2. a brief, unusually heavy period of trading.
4. a sudden gust of wind.

verb (used with object)

, flur·ried, flur·ry·ing.

1. to put (a person) into a flurry; confuse; fluster.

verb (used without object)

, flur·ried, flur·ry·ing.

1. (of snow) to fall or be blown in a flurry.
2. to move in an excited or agitated manner.

flurry

/ ˈflʌrɪ /

noun

1. a sudden commotion or burst of activity
2. a light gust of wind or rain or fall of snow
3. stock exchange a sudden brief increase in trading or fluctuation in stock prices
4. the death spasms of a harpooned whale

verb

1. to confuse or bewilder or be confused or bewildered

Other Words From

• flurried·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of flurry¹

1680–90, Americanism; blend of flutter and hurry

Word History and Origins

Origin of flurry¹

C17: from obsolete flurr to scatter, perhaps formed on analogy with hurry

Example Sentences

That said, some spotty light snow showers or flurries are possible anywhere in the region during the day Friday, but accumulating, steady snow is not expected.

From Washington Post

Spotty light snow or flurries are still possible in the immediate area, but accumulations are unlikely.

From Washington Post

After the Civil War, there was a brief flurry of school-building in the South through the Freedmen’s Bureau with the aim of quickly educating almost 4 million formerly enslaved people.

From Washington Post

Traditional animal agriculture has pushed back against plant-based meat, claiming common nomenclature was confusing to consumers, which has resulted in a flurry of state legislative activity and litigation around labeling.

From Washington Post

Thanks to Voytek’s algorithm and other methods, a flurry of studies published in the last few years have run with the idea that aperiodic activity contain hidden treasures that may advance the study of aging, sleep, childhood development and more.

From Quanta Magazine

“I have full faith that this will happen,” Williams says, prepping her fairy dust for a flurry of happy thoughts.

From The Daily Beast

Another flurry of pro-ACA Instagram posts from Hollywood actors?

From The Daily Beast

He crumpled to the ground under a flurry of fists and boots, and as he recalls, no one around him tried to stop the attack.

From The Daily Beast

A flurry of emails continued over the weekend, culminating in what they claimed were $2 million in new donations.

From The Daily Beast

Thus began a flurry of back-and-forth emails between director and subject.

From The Daily Beast

And this was all they said to each other—until they had gone through the flurry of the station and found their compartment.

From Project Gutenberg

She seemed to be overcome by quite a little flurry of passion, and her manner irritated me.

From Project Gutenberg

A dorsal fin cut the surface close by, there was a little flurry, and the pirate disappeared.

From Project Gutenberg

But armed as he was, severe and flash-tempered as he seemed, Mackenzie was not in any sort of a flurry to give ground before him.

From Project Gutenberg

There was a short, sharp flurry, but Vincente knew every trick of the game and speedily brought the gallant fish on board.

From Project Gutenberg