verb
scurry
SKUH-ree
Scurry (verb) means to run with short, quick, hurried steps. Example: “The mice scurried back into their hole when the light came on.”
verb
1
To run with short, quick, hurried steps.
"The mice scurried back into their hole when the light came on."
"Commuters scurried across the platform to catch the last train."
noun
1
A quick, hurried dash or bustle of activity.
"There was a scurry of activity backstage before the curtain rose."
How to use scurry
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo move quickly with small, hasty steps, the way a small animal or a rushed person does.
Common pairings
scurry away
scurry off
a scurry of activity
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Word forms
- Plural
- scurries
- Third person singular
- scurries
- Past tense
- scurried
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
There was a _____ of activity backstage before the curtain rose.
Etymology
Probably a shortening of "hurry-scurry," a rhyming reduplication of "hurry."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for scurry
See all rhymes for scurry →Frequently asked questions
What does “scurry” mean?
The word “scurry” means to run with short, quick, hurried steps. In plain terms, to move quickly with small, hasty steps, the way a small animal or a rushed person does.
How do you pronounce “scurry”?
“Scurry” is pronounced SKUH-ree (/ˈskʌ.ɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “scurry” in a sentence?
Here is “scurry” used in a sentence: “There was a scurry of activity backstage before the curtain rose.”
What part of speech is “scurry”?
Depending on how it is used, “scurry” can be a verb and a noun.
How many meanings does “scurry” have?
“Scurry” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to run with short, quick, hurried steps.
