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

A simple analogy is people packed into a crowded elevator: the moment the door opens, they hurry to escape.

Read more on Science Daily

They are tied for sixth with 98 quarterback pressures and seventh with 37 quarterback hurries.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Within a single paragraph, we are told that time “was flying by,” that someone “stopped in his tracks” while others “hurried breathlessly.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She looks hurried, though, and her eyes reflect impatience.

Read more on Literature

“Now hurry. Be quick, before the conductor comes!”

Read more on Literature

Related Words

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