verb
Uncommon
hustle
HUH-suhl
Hustle (verb) means to push, shove, or move someone quickly and often roughly. Example: “Security hustled the protester out of the building.”
verb
1
To push, shove, or move someone quickly and often roughly.
"Security hustled the protester out of the building."
"The guards hustled the crowd towards the exit when the alarm began to sound."
"He hustled his little sister into the car before the rain started."
2
To work hard and energetically, especially to earn money.
"She's been hustling all year to grow her small business."
"He hustles as a freelance photographer on weekends."
"Maria hustles every evening, selling handmade candles online after her day job."
3
To con or swindle someone, especially in a game or deal.
"The pool shark hustled tourists out of their cash."
"He hustled the newcomers at cards by pretending he had never played before."
"Be careful at the market, because some sellers will hustle you if you look naive."
noun
1
Determined effort and energetic activity, especially toward earning money.
"You need real hustle to succeed as a startup founder."
"Her hustle and long hours turned a tiny market stall into a thriving shop."
"Nobody doubted his hustle, since he worked two jobs and still studied at night."
2
A dishonest scheme; a scam.
"The whole investment turned out to be a hustle."
"The free holiday offer was just a hustle to collect people's personal details."
"Police warned residents about a doorstep hustle targeting elderly people."
How to use hustle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo work hard and energetically (especially to earn money), or to push/shove someone, or to run a scam.
When to use it
"Hustle" as in "grind culture" or "side hustle" is informal, modern business slang.
Common pairings
side hustle
hustle and bustle
have hustle
hustle someone out of money
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Word forms
- Plural
- hustles
- Third person singular
- hustles
- Past tense
- hustled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Security _____ the protester out of the building.
Etymology
From Dutch husselen, meaning "to shake up" — the sense of pushing and jostling came first, and the modern "work hard" meaning developed later in American English.
Related words
Rhymes for hustle
See all rhymes for hustle →Frequently asked questions
What does “hustle” mean?
The word “hustle” means to push, shove, or move someone quickly and often roughly. In plain terms, to work hard and energetically (especially to earn money), or to push/shove someone, or to run a scam.
How do you pronounce “hustle”?
“Hustle” is pronounced HUH-suhl (/ˈhʌsəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “hustle” in a sentence?
Here is “hustle” used in a sentence: “Security hustled the protester out of the building.”
What is another word for “hustle”?
Words with a similar meaning to “hustle” include make tracks, swindle and turn tricks.
What part of speech is “hustle”?
Depending on how it is used, “hustle” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “hustle” come from?
The word “hustle” comes from Dutch. From Dutch husselen, meaning "to shake up" — the sense of pushing and jostling came first, and the modern "work hard" meaning developed later in American English.
Is “hustle” a common word?
“Hustle” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “hustle” have?
“Hustle” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to push, shove, or move someone quickly and often roughly.
What is the difference between "hustle" and "swindle"?
"Hustle" as a verb can mean either to work hard and energetically to earn money or to con someone in a deal, while "swindle" refers only to the dishonest sense of cheating someone. So "hustle" is broader and context-dependent, covering both legitimate hard work and deceptive schemes.
Is "hustle" always negative, like a scam?
No. "Hustle" has a positive, widely used sense meaning determined effort and energetic activity toward earning money, such as having a "side hustle." Only its other sense, involving conning or swindling someone, carries a negative, dishonest connotation.
What does it mean to "hustle" someone physically?
To "hustle" someone in this sense means to push, shove, or move them quickly and often roughly, which is a distinct meaning from the money-earning or swindling senses of the word. This physical sense is common in descriptions of someone being forced along quickly, such as being hustled out of a building.
Can "hustle" be used as both a noun and a verb?
Yes, "hustle" functions as a verb (to work hard, to con, or to physically push someone) and as a noun describing either energetic effort toward earning money or a dishonest scheme. The correct sense usually depends on surrounding context.
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