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

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

Hamstring injuries are finicky, especially for a mobile quarterback, and hurrying back from one is never smart.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

When the work day was over, he’d hurry back to campus for a cold plunge, footwork reps and hours of film review.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

“They don’t want to be rushed, hurried or distracted.”

Read more on Wall Street Journal

"India is not in a hurry to provide diplomatic recognition to the Taliban," Rakesh Sood, India's former ambassador to Kabul, told AFP.

Read more on Barron's

On Sunday, I asked Dodgers manager Dave Roberts whether Kershaw was here only in case a starter exited in a hurry or a game went into extra innings.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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