verb
harry
HA-ree
verb
1
To repeatedly bother, pressure, or harass someone.
"Reporters harried the celebrity outside her hotel for hours."
"Debt collectors kept harrying him with phone calls."
2
To make repeated raids or attacks on an enemy.
"Guerrilla fighters harried the retreating army for days."
How to Use Harry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo pester someone relentlessly, or to launch repeated small attacks on an enemy.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the verb "harry" with the common given name Harry — context makes it obvious, but the verb is fairly formal/literary.
Common pairings
harry the enemy
harried by reporters
Word Forms
harried past tense, harries plural, Harrys plural, Harries plural, harries singular
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Debt collectors kept _____ him with phone calls.
Etymology
From Old English herġian, "to ravage or raid," ultimately from a Germanic word for "army."