rush

verb

/rʌʃ/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they rush	/rʌʃ/ /rʌʃ/
he / she / it rushes	/ˈrʌʃɪz/ /ˈrʌʃɪz/
past simple rushed	/rʌʃt/ /rʌʃt/
past participle rushed	/rʌʃt/ /rʌʃt/
-ing form rushing	/ˈrʌʃɪŋ/ /ˈrʌʃɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

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move fast

[intransitive, transitive] to move or to do something with great speed, often too fast

We've got plenty of time; there's no need to rush.
the sound of rushing water
+ adv./prep. Don't rush off, I haven't finished.
I've been rushing around all day trying to get everything done.
The children rushed out of school.
Firefighters rushed to the scene and extinguished the blaze.
When I fell forwards onto the ice, Michael came rushing to my aid, helping me up giving me an encouraging smile.
His wife immediately rushed to his defence (= defended him against attack or criticism).
Beachgoers rushed to the rescue of three boys as they were pulled out to sea in a rip tide.
My college years seemed to rush past.
She rushed back upstairs.
rush to do something People rushed to buy shares in the company.
rush something We had to rush our meal.

Extra Examples

She was rushing around madly looking for her bag.
Two men came rushing into the room.
Whenever her little brother was upset, Jane rushed to the rescue.
a train rushing headlong down the track
A surge of joy rushed through her body.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

headlong
madly
quickly
…

preposition

along
from
into
…

phrases

come rushing
go rushing
rush to somebody’s rescue
…

See full entry

take/send quickly

[transitive] rush somebody/something + adv./prep. to transport or send somebody/something somewhere with great speed

Ambulances rushed the injured to the hospital.
Relief supplies were rushed in.
He was rushed home immediately.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb

headlong
madly
quickly
…

preposition

along
from
into
…

phrases

come rushing
go rushing
rush to somebody’s rescue
…

See full entry

do something too quickly

[intransitive, transitive] to do something or to make somebody do something without thinking about it carefully

We have to be careful not to rush to judgment.
rush into doing something We don't want to rush into having a baby.
rush into something Let us not rush headlong into this crazy project without careful consideration.
rush somebody Don't rush me. I need time to think about it.
rush somebody into something/into doing something I'm not going to be rushed into anything.

liquid/air

[intransitive] (+ adv./prep.) (of a liquid or air) to flow strongly

The water rushed in through the hole in the ship's hull.

attack

[transitive] rush somebody/something to try to attack or capture somebody/something suddenly

A group of prisoners rushed an officer and managed to break out.
Fans rushed the stage after the concert.

in American football

[transitive] rush somebody (North American English) to run into somebody who has the ball

[intransitive] (North American English) to move forward and gain ground by carrying the ball and not passing it

in American colleges

[transitive] rush somebody (North American English) to give a lot of attention to somebody, especially to a student because you want them to join your fraternity or sorority

He is being rushed by Sigma Nu.

Word Originverb late Middle English: from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French ruser ‘drive back’, an early sense of the word in English, perhaps based on Latin rursus ‘backwards’.

Idioms

be rushed/run off your feet

to be extremely busy; to have too many things to do
- Weekdays are slow in the restaurant, but at weekends the staff are rushed off their feet.

fools rush in (where angels fear to tread)

(saying) people with little experience try to do the difficult or dangerous things that more experienced people would not consider doing

rush

noun

/rʌʃ/

Idioms

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fast movement

[singular] a sudden strong movement or action

rush for something Shoppers made a rush for the exits.
in a rush The words came out in a rush.
in the rush to do something She was trampled in the rush to get out.
They listened to the rush of the sea below.
The door blew open, letting in a rush of cold air.
He had a rush of blood to the head (= suddenly lost control of himself) and punched the man.
rush towards something (figurative) The ancient art is all but lost in the city's headlong rush towards industrialisation.
an adrenaline/a sugar rush

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

headlong
sudden
adrenalin
…

verb + rush

experience
feel

preposition

rush for
rush of

See full entry

hurry

[singular, uncountable] a situation in which you are in a hurry and need to do things quickly

What's the rush?
‘I'll let you have the book back tomorrow.’ ‘There's no rush.’
in a rush I can't stop—I'm in a rush.
The note looked like it had been written in a rush.
in a rush to do something I’m not in any rush to get back to work.
The trip to Paris was all a mad rush.
a rush job (= one that has been done quickly)

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

awful
big
frantic
…

verb + rush

avoid

rush + noun

decision
job
hour
…

preposition

in a rush
rush for
rush of
…

phrases

have a rush on

See full entry

busy situation

[singular] a situation in which people are very busy and there is a lot of activity

Book now and avoid the last-minute rush.
The evening rush was just starting.
the Christmas rush
We've had a rush on at the office, dealing with the backlog of orders.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

awful
big
frantic
…

verb + rush

avoid

rush + noun

decision
job
hour
…

preposition

in a rush
rush for
rush of
…

phrases

have a rush on

See full entry

of feeling

[singular] rush (of something) a sudden strong emotion or sign of strong emotion

a sudden rush of excitement/fear/anger

Extra Examples

She experienced a sudden rush of emotion.
He felt a sudden rush of excitement.
When she heard his voice it was with a rush of relief.

Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective

headlong
sudden
adrenalin
…

verb + rush

experience
feel

preposition

rush for
rush of

See full entry

[singular] a sudden feeling of extreme pleasure or excitement

Parachuting will give you the rush of a lifetime.
Users of the drug report experiencing a rush that lasts several minutes.

sudden demand

[singular] rush (on/for something) a sudden large demand for goods, etc. synonym run (8)

There's been a rush on umbrellas this week.

plant

[countable, usually plural] a tall plant like grass that grows near water. Its long thin stems can be dried and used for making baskets, the seats of chairs, etc.

rush matting

Topics Plants and treesc2

of film/movie

rushes

[plural] (specialist) the first prints of a film before they have been edited

in American football

[countable] an occasion when a player or players run towards a player on the other team who has the ball

There was a rush on the quarterback.

[countable] an occasion when a player runs forward with the ball

Johnson carried the ball an average of 6 yards per rush.

in American colleges

[singular] (North American English) the time when parties are held for students who want to join a fraternity or sorority

rush week
a rush party

Word Originnoun senses 1 to 6 and noun senses 8 to 10 late Middle English: from an Anglo-Norman French variant of Old French ruser ‘drive back’, an early sense of the word in English, perhaps based on Latin rursus ‘backwards’. noun sense 7 Old English risc, rysc, of Germanic origin.

Idioms

give somebody/get the bum’s rush

(informal, especially North American English) to force somebody/be forced to leave a place quickly
- He was soon given the bum's rush from the club.