harry

¹ American  

[har-ee] / ˈhær i /

verb (used with object)

harried, harrying

1. to harass, agitate, or trouble by or as if by repeated attacks; beleaguer.

   He was harried by constant doubts.

   Synonyms:

   trouble, plague, molest

2. to ravage, as in war; devastate.

   The troops harried the countryside.

   Synonyms:

   pillage, rob, strip, plunder

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verb (used without object)

harried, harrying

1. to make harassing incursions.

Harry ² American  

[har-ee] / ˈhær i /

noun

1. a male given name, form of Harold or Henry.

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harry British  

/ ˈhærɪ /

verb

1. (tr) to harass; worry

2. to ravage (a town, etc), esp in war

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Etymology

Origin of harry

First recorded before 900; Middle English herien, Old English her(g)ian (derivative of here “army”); cognate with German verheeren, Old Norse herja “to harry, lay waste”

Example Sentences

“True, we’ve had misunderstandings. Though the ring knows when I’ve been walking, it confuses my harried morning routine for housework. After making a dinner one night, the ring asked whether I’d been on the elliptical.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Though the ring knows when I’ve been walking, it confuses my harried morning routine for housework.

From The Wall Street Journal

As the harried solo parent of a sick child, Byrne lets the camera zoom in so close to her character’s insecurities that the audience breaks out in a cold sweat.

From Los Angeles Times

The girl’s mother is pregnant—again—and harried.

From The Wall Street Journal

When they were first married, Heather was a harried corporate lawyer working long hours.

From MarketWatch