English Reference
Adverb

hastily

adv. manner
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈheɪstəɫi/ UK /hˈeɪstɪli/ hasti·ly

adv.with great speed or in a hurry. You often use this when someone does something too fast without thinking carefully first.

adv.with excessive speed or urgency; hurriedly. Often implies a lack of deliberation or care.


SIMPLE

He hastily packed his bags and left.

CONTEXTUAL

The report was hastily written on the train, resulting in several embarrassing spelling mistakes.

COMPLEX

Realizing the deadline had already passed, the committee hastily drafted a response to appease the angry shareholders before the market opened.

Usage

Typically placed before the main verb or at the end of the clause.

Pitfall
He did it hasty.He did it hastily.

Learners often use the adjective 'hasty' where the adverbial form 'hastily' is required to modify a verb.

The two-hander opens with social worker Hegarty (Patrick McBrearty) training his video camera on newly single mother Garrick (Clodagh Mooney Duggan) in her hastily tidied living room, with children’s toys swept under the sofa.

The Guardian· 15 Aug 2026

From hasty + -ly.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated