hurry
1 of 2verb
hur·ry ˈhər-ē 
ˈhə-rē
hurried; hurrying
transitive verb
1
a
: to carry or cause to go with haste
hurry them to the hospital
b
: to impel to rash or precipitate action
that hard-to-be-governed passion of youth hurried me frequently into intrigues with low women
Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin2
a
: to impel to greater speed : prod
used spurs to hurry the horse
b
: expedite
asked them to hurry dinner
c
: to perform with undue haste
hurry a minuet
intransitive verb
: to move or act with haste
please hurry up
hurrier noun
hurry
2 of 2noun
1
: disturbed or disorderly activity : commotion
the incessant hurry and trivial activity of daily life … seem to prevent, or at least discourage, quiet and intense thinking C. W. Eliot
C. W. Eliot2
a
: agitated and often bustling or disorderly haste
b
: a state of eagerness or urgency : rush
was in a hurry to get home
Synonyms
Verb
- accelerate
- bundle
- fast-track
- hasten
- quicken
- rush
- speed (up)
- whisk
Noun
- haste
- hastiness
- hustle
- precipitation
- precipitousness
- rush
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb Take your time. There's no need to hurry. She hurried off to her class. We hurried through the lesson so that we could finish early. The teacher hurried us through the lesson. They hurried the children off to bed. The quarterback was forced to hurry his throw. Noun In her hurry to leave she forgot her briefcase. after all her hurry to get her report done on time, Elizabeth learned that it wasn't due till the following week See More
Recent Examples on the Web Terry Pluto, cleveland, 17 Sep. 2022 He was credited with just one tackle against the Rams and failed to register a single quarterback pressure, hurry or hit. Michael Cohen, Detroit Free Press, 4 Sep. 2022 Shop these sets and all of our other picks below — but hurry, these deals aren't guaranteed to last much longer! Annie Burdick, Peoplemag, 26 Aug. 2022 Some people are going to want Jimmy to hurry up and become Saul Goodman and why is this dinky, blond ponytail in our way? Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2022 But hurry, the Dermstore Anniversary Sale is only for a few more days and products are already selling out. Daisy Maldonado, SELF, 12 Aug. 2022 So the very next drive, Barbee turned to a hurry-up offense and just kept force-feeding Samples, who chugged for 78 first-half yards in 14 carries. Luca Evans, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2022 Each bell-ringer has to know exactly when to hurry or delay so that the transpositions occur as planned, a remarkable feat of cooperation and coordination. Eugenia Cheng, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 The brand's full-coverage Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation and creamy, crease-proof Stay Naked Correcting Concealer will both be 40 percent off, so hurry and restock your base stash. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 3 Aug. 2022 Mark Stewart, Journal Sentinel, 17 Sep. 2022 Toronto Blue Jays star George Springer in a hurry, sailed over the outfield fence and brought the Rogers Centre crowd to its feet, creating the kind of noise few Orioles players have experienced thus far in their careers. Andy Kostka, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2022 Godard's technique got better in a hurry, and this romantic tragedy remains his most perfect concoction of self-awareness and pure entertainment. Joshua Rothkopf, EW.com, 14 Sep. 2022 The defense of the reigning Big 12 champions closes gaps in a hurry and has real speed. Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Sep. 2022 Democrats currently control both houses of Congress, so Graham’s bill is going nowhere in a hurry. Grace Segers, The New Republic, 14 Sep. 2022 Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur needs to figure out those things in a hurry, especially because that Jets’ offense Sunday looked a lot like the versions frustrated Jets fans have seen the last several seasons. Dennis Waszak Jr., Hartford Courant, 12 Sep. 2022 Kentucky needs to get right on the offensive line in a hurry. Brett Dawson, The Courier-Journal, 8 Sep. 2022 Combined with his tall frame, freakish flexibility and athletic ability, the ball jumps on hitters in a hurry. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2022 See More
Verb
Hudson allowed zero sacks, zero QB hits and only one QB hurry. Terry Pluto, cleveland, 17 Sep. 2022 He was credited with just one tackle against the Rams and failed to register a single quarterback pressure, hurry or hit. Michael Cohen, Detroit Free Press, 4 Sep. 2022 Shop these sets and all of our other picks below — but hurry, these deals aren't guaranteed to last much longer! Annie Burdick, Peoplemag, 26 Aug. 2022 Some people are going to want Jimmy to hurry up and become Saul Goodman and why is this dinky, blond ponytail in our way? Los Angeles Times, 16 Aug. 2022 But hurry, the Dermstore Anniversary Sale is only for a few more days and products are already selling out. Daisy Maldonado, SELF, 12 Aug. 2022 So the very next drive, Barbee turned to a hurry-up offense and just kept force-feeding Samples, who chugged for 78 first-half yards in 14 carries. Luca Evans, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2022 Each bell-ringer has to know exactly when to hurry or delay so that the transpositions occur as planned, a remarkable feat of cooperation and coordination. Eugenia Cheng, WSJ, 4 Aug. 2022 The brand's full-coverage Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation and creamy, crease-proof Stay Naked Correcting Concealer will both be 40 percent off, so hurry and restock your base stash. Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 3 Aug. 2022 Noun
If this is an indication of how the afternoon is going to go, then UW is going to pile up points in a hurry. Mark Stewart, Journal Sentinel, 17 Sep. 2022 Toronto Blue Jays star George Springer in a hurry, sailed over the outfield fence and brought the Rogers Centre crowd to its feet, creating the kind of noise few Orioles players have experienced thus far in their careers. Andy Kostka, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2022 Godard's technique got better in a hurry, and this romantic tragedy remains his most perfect concoction of self-awareness and pure entertainment. Joshua Rothkopf, EW.com, 14 Sep. 2022 The defense of the reigning Big 12 champions closes gaps in a hurry and has real speed. Kevin Reynolds, The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Sep. 2022 Democrats currently control both houses of Congress, so Graham’s bill is going nowhere in a hurry. Grace Segers, The New Republic, 14 Sep. 2022 Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur needs to figure out those things in a hurry, especially because that Jets’ offense Sunday looked a lot like the versions frustrated Jets fans have seen the last several seasons. Dennis Waszak Jr., Hartford Courant, 12 Sep. 2022 Kentucky needs to get right on the offensive line in a hurry. Brett Dawson, The Courier-Journal, 8 Sep. 2022 Combined with his tall frame, freakish flexibility and athletic ability, the ball jumps on hitters in a hurry. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb and Noun
perhaps from Middle English horyen
First Known Use
Verb
1592, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing hurry
Kids Definition
hurry 1 of 2
verb
hur·ry ˈhər-ē
hurried; hurrying
1
: to carry or cause to go with haste
She is not someone who can be hurried.
2
: to move or act with haste
She hurried off to school.
3
: to speed up
Mechanics hurried the repair job.
hurry
2 of 2noun
: a need to act or move more quickly than usual : rush
hurry 1 of 2
noun
1
as in hustle
excited and often showy or disorderly speed after all her hurry to get her report done on time, Elizabeth learned that it wasn't due till the following week Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- hustle
- rush
- haste
- scramble
- hastiness
- precipitation
- scurry
- precipitousness
- speed
- scuttle
- bustle
- dash
- beeline
- stir
- stampede
- flutter
- quickness
- expedition
- rapidity
- velocity
- impulsiveness
- swiftness
- impulsivity
- flurry
- promptness
- dispatch
- whirl
- rashness
- celerity
- impetuosity
- promptitude
- impetuousness
- speediness
- hotheadedness
- rapidness
- fleetness
- expeditiousness
- fastness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- slowness
- deliberation
- deliberateness
- procrastination
- lateness
- lethargy
- inertia
- sluggishness
- pokiness
- dilatoriness
- inaction
- languor
- torpor
- inactivity
- inertness
- leisureliness
- dormancy
- quiescence
2
as in speed
a high rate of movement or performance a person who does everything in a hurry Synonyms & Similar Words
- speed
- velocity
- rate
- haste
- quickness
- pace
- rapidity
- swiftness
- celerity
- rush
- acceleration
- speediness
- fastness
- rapidness
- fleetness
- tempo
- clip
- gait
- hustle
- expedition
- hastiness
- dispatch
- drive
- alacrity
- precipitation
- promptness
- promptitude
- precipitousness
- warp speed
- expeditiousness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- slowness
- reluctance
- lethargy
- sluggishness
- deliberation
- languor
- torpidity
- torpor
- deliberateness
- procrastination
- languidness
- lateness
- leisureliness
- dilatoriness
- pokiness
3
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity in all the hurry of the modern world, people tend to forget what's really important Synonyms & Similar Words
- commotion
- stir
- fuss
- disturbance
- turmoil
- bother
- fun
- storm
- clatter
- hurry-scurry
- clutter
- noise
- do
- racket
- hurricane
- row
- bustle
- ado
- zoo
- hurry-skurry
- splore
- whirl
- ruckus
- pother
- roar
- hubbub
- helter-skelter
- hoopla
- pandemonium
- hurly
- flurry
- squall
- coil
- tumult
- shindy
- hullabaloo
- stew
- hurly-burly
- bobbery
- blather
- kerfuffle
- furore
- rumpus
- uproar
- to-do
- furor
- moil
- foofaraw
- ballyhoo
- ruction
- alarums and excursions
- hoo-hah
- upheaval
- bluster
- clamor
- hoo-ha
- welter
- corroboree
- howl
- williwaw
- din
- outcry
- hubble-bubble
- unrest
- flutter
- fray
- fret
- brawl
- disorder
- cacophony
- eruption
- scuffle
- hassle
- outbreak
- outburst
- fever
- dither
- tizzy
- melee
- hue and cry
- fracas
- lather
- flare-up
- mêlée
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rest
- peace
- quiet
- hush
- order
- calm
- stillness
- tranquility
- tranquillity
- quietude
- orderliness
hurry
2 of 2verb
1
as in to rush
to cause to move or proceed fast or faster the new nurses were hurried through the orientation program because they were so desperately needed on the ward Synonyms & Similar Words
- rush
- accelerate
- push
- urge
- hasten
- quicken
- bundle
- encourage
- fast-track
- whisk
- drive
- spur
- race
- facilitate
- speed (up)
- stir
- aid
- expedite
- goad
- propel
- prod
- dispatch
- ease
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- slow (down)
- delay
- brake
- retard
- decelerate
- stop
- restrain
- hinder
- impede
- interfere (with)
- stay
- check
- hamper
- tie up
- hold back
- encumber
- hold up
- rein (in)
- stall
- still
- arrest
- fetter
- shackle
- hobble
- trammel
- manacle
2
as in to scurry
to proceed or move quickly if we hurry, we'll make the four o'clock train Synonyms & Similar Words
- rush
- scurry
- speed
- travel
- race
- fly
- drive
- chase
- trot
- jump
- zip
- run
- scoot
- buzz
- blow
- step
- scuttle
- blast
- dash
- dart
- bowl
- hasten
- rip
- whirl
- tear
- jog
- zoom
- hustle
- shoot
- course
- ram
- breeze
- bolt
- rustle
- bundle
- career
- hurtle
- hare
- blaze
- nip
- motor
- hump
- bustle
- hurl
- barrel
- gallop
- hie
- jet
- rocket
- whisk
- beat it
- careen
- cannonball
- pelt
- belt
- highball
- bomb
- hotfoot (it)
- crack (on)
- shake a leg
- scamper
- step on it
- flit
- get a move on
- make tracks
- sprint
- accelerate
- whiz
- stampede
- scuffle
- streak
- scud
- quicken
- beetle
- overtake
- outrun
- whizz
- step out
- beeline
- catch up
- outpace
- outstrip
- arrow
- fast-forward
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- creep
- crawl
- dawdle
- drag
- linger
- hang (around or out)
- poke
- lag
- tarry
- stroll
- poke
- amble
- saunter
- shuffle
- slow (down or up)
- dillydally
- loiter
- plod
- decelerate
- lumber
- dally
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of hurry are dispatch, expedition, haste, and speed. While all these words mean "quickness in movement or action," hurry often has a strong suggestion of agitated bustle or confusion.
in the hurry of departure she forgot her toothbrush
Expedition and dispatch both imply speed and efficiency in handling affairs but expedition stresses ease or efficiency of performance and dispatch stresses promptness in concluding matters.
the case came to trial with expedition
paid bills with dispatch
The words haste and hurry can be used in similar contexts, but haste applies to personal action and implies urgency and precipitancy and often rashness.
marry in haste
Although the words speed and hurry have much in common, speed suggests swift efficiency in movement or action.
exercises to increase your reading speed