hurry

[ hur-ee, huhr-ee ]

verb (used without object)

, hur·ried, hur·ry·ing.

1. to move, proceed, or act with haste (often followed by up ):

   Hurry, or we'll be late. Hurry up, it's starting to rain.

verb (used with object)

, hur·ried, hur·ry·ing.

1. to drive, carry, or cause to move or perform with speed.

   Synonyms: hasten

2. to hasten; urge forward (often followed by up ).

   Synonyms: hustle, expedite, quicken, accelerate

   Antonyms: slow, delay

3. to impel or perform with undue haste:

   to hurry someone into a decision.

noun

, plural hur·ries.

1. a state of urgency or eagerness:

   to be in a hurry to meet a train.

2. hurried movement or action; haste.

   Synonyms: quickness, ado, bustle, speed, dispatch, expedition, celerity

   Antonyms: deliberation

hurry

/ ˈhʌrɪ /

verb

1. introften foll byup to hasten (to do something); rush
2. troften foll byalong to speed up the completion, progress, etc, of

noun

1. haste
2. urgency or eagerness
3. in a hurry informal.
   1. easily

      you won't beat him in a hurry

   2. willingly

      we won't go there again in a hurry

Derived Forms

• ˈhurryingly, adverb
• ˈhurrying, nounadjective

Other Words From

• hurry·ing·ly adverb
• over·hurry verb overhurried overhurrying
• un·hurry·ing adjective
• un·hurry·ing·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurry¹

First recorded in 1580–90; expressive word of uncertain origin, compare Middle English horyed (attested once) “rushed, impelled,” Middle High German hurren “to move quickly”

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurry¹

C16 horyen, probably of imitative origin; compare Middle High German hurren; see scurry

Synonym Study

See rush ¹.

Example Sentences

Mr O'Hara said he immediately felt an "excruciating pain" but his visitor told him that was a normal reaction, then left in a hurry.

From BBC

Standard protocol when a critically ill patient experiences a miscarriage is to stabilize her and, in most cases, hurry to the operating room for delivery, medical experts said.

From Salon

Hopefully he can hurry up and get it done.

From Los Angeles Times

The group became suspicious that police were closing in on them and they left in a hurry on Oct.

From Los Angeles Times

Garcia and Sanchez said they call senior lead officers from the Rampart division when they have a specific problem, and they can usually count on help arriving in a hurry.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dash
• hasten
• hustle
• jog
• rush
• scoot
• scurry
• whirl
• whisk
• zip