haste
hayst
Haste (noun) means Speed or urgency in doing something, often at the cost of care. Example: “In her haste to leave, she forgot her keys.”
noun
1
Speed or urgency in doing something, often at the cost of care.
"In her haste to leave, she forgot her keys."
"The report was written in haste and full of errors."
How to use haste
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDoing something quickly, usually implying not enough care was taken.
Common mistake
Often paired with "make haste" (an instruction to hurry) — an old-fashioned but still-understood phrase.
Common pairings
in haste
make haste
undue haste
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Word forms
- Plural
- hastes
- Third person singular
- hastes
- Past tense
- hasted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
In her _____ to leave, she forgot her keys.
Etymology
From Old French haste, ultimately from a Frankish word for violent action — the sense mellowed over time to mean simple speed or urgency.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for haste
See all rhymes for haste →Frequently asked questions
What does “haste” mean?
The word “haste” means speed or urgency in doing something, often at the cost of care. In plain terms, doing something quickly, usually implying not enough care was taken.
How do you pronounce “haste”?
“Haste” is pronounced hayst (/heɪst/ in IPA).
How do you use “haste” in a sentence?
Here is “haste” used in a sentence: “In her haste to leave, she forgot her keys.”
What part of speech is “haste”?
“Haste” is a noun.
Where does the word “haste” come from?
The word “haste” comes from Old French. From Old French haste, ultimately from a Frankish word for violent action — the sense mellowed over time to mean simple speed or urgency.
Is “haste” a common word?
“Haste” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
