hurry
HUH-ree
Hurry (verb) means to move or act with speed, or to make someone or something move faster. Example: “Hurry up, the bus leaves in two minutes!”
verb
1
To move or act with speed, or to make someone or something move faster.
"Hurry up, the bus leaves in two minutes!"
"We need to hurry or we'll miss the flight."
"She hurried the children along so they wouldn't be late for school."
noun
1
The state of needing to do something quickly; urgency.
"Why are you in such a hurry to leave the party?"
"There's no hurry, take your time."
"He left in such a hurry that he forgot his keys."
How to use hurry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo move fast because time is short, or the feeling of needing to move fast.
Common pairings
in a hurry
hurry up
no hurry
hurry along
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Word forms
- Plural
- hurries
- Third person singular
- hurries
- Past tense
- hurried
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ up, the bus leaves in two minutes!
Etymology
From Middle English horien ("to rush"), probably related to Proto-Germanic roots meaning "to rush" or "to vibrate rapidly" — distantly connected to the word rush itself.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for hurry
See all rhymes for hurry →Frequently asked questions
What does “hurry” mean?
The word “hurry” means to move or act with speed, or to make someone or something move faster. In plain terms, to move fast because time is short, or the feeling of needing to move fast.
How do you pronounce “hurry”?
“Hurry” is pronounced HUH-ree (/ˈhʌ.ɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “hurry” in a sentence?
Here is “hurry” used in a sentence: “We need to hurry or we'll miss the flight.”
What part of speech is “hurry”?
Depending on how it is used, “hurry” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “hurry” come from?
The word “hurry” comes from Middle English. From Middle English horien ("to rush"), probably related to Proto-Germanic roots meaning "to rush" or "to vibrate rapidly" — distantly connected to the word rush itself.
Is “hurry” a common word?
“Hurry” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “hurry” have?
“Hurry” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to move or act with speed, or to make someone or something move faster.
What is the difference between hurry and rush?
Both mean to move or act quickly, but rush suggests more force, haste, and sometimes carelessness. Hurry is a slightly softer, everyday word for speeding up without that added sense of chaos.
What is the difference between 'hurry' and 'hurry up'?
Adding 'up' makes the phrase more emphatic and is usually a direct command telling someone to go faster. 'Hurry' on its own can be a gentler prompt or a plain statement about moving quickly.
What is the difference between hurry and hasten?
Both mean to speed up an action or a person. Hasten is more formal and appears mainly in writing, while hurry is the common choice in everyday speech.
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