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hurry

v. · n.
US //ˈhɝi// UK //hˈʌɹi// hur·ry
  1. 1 to move quickly (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to move or act fast because you are in a rush.

    to move, proceed, or act with haste, often due to time constraints.

    Example

    We need to hurry if we want to catch the last train home.

    Example

    The commuters hurried through the station, barely glancing at the departures board as the final whistle blew for the express service.

    Usage

    Often used as an intransitive verb or with 'up' to increase speed.
  2. 2 to make someone go faster (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to make someone else move or finish something more quickly.

    to urge or impel someone to greater speed or more rapid action.

    Example

    Don't hurry me while I am trying to finish this difficult task.

    Example

    The manager attempted to hurry the design team, but they insisted that rushing the final phase would compromise the product's safety.

    Usage

    Transitive use; takes a direct object.
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  1. 3 a state of urgency (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the need to move or act quickly.

    a state of urgency or eagerness that requires rapid action.

    Example

    I am in a hurry because my meeting starts in five minutes.

    Example

    In his hurry to leave the office before the storm broke, he inadvertently left his laptop charger plugged into the wall.

    Usage

    Commonly used in the fixed expression 'in a hurry'.
    Pitfall
    I am in hurry.
    I am in a hurry.

    In the common phrase 'in a hurry', you must include the indefinite article 'a'.

  2. 4 American football pressure (n.)
    C2 Proficiency American English Technical Sport

    when a defensive player forces the quarterback to throw the ball too early.

    an instance of defensive pressure that forces a quarterback to release the ball prematurely.

    Example

    The defense got a hurry on the quarterback, causing an incomplete pass.

    Example

    Despite failing to record a sack, the defensive end's consistent hurries disrupted the offensive rhythm throughout the second half.
  3. 5 dramatic music (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Archaic Theatre

    fast music played during an exciting or scary scene in a play.

    a rapid, tremolando musical passage intended to accompany an exciting or tense stage situation.

    Example

    The orchestra played a hurry as the hero chased the villain across the stage.

    Example

    The conductor signaled for a violin hurry to heighten the tension during the climactic sword fight in the third act.

Origin

From Middle English horien (“to rush, impel”), probably a variation of hurren (“to vibrate rapidly, buzz”), from Proto-Germanic hurzaną (“to rush”) (compare Middle High German hurren (“to hasten”), Norwegian hurre (“to whirl around”)), from Proto-Indo-European ḱers- (“to run”) (compare Latin currō (“to run”), Tocharian A kursär/Tocharian B kwarsär (“league; course”)). Related to hurr, horse, rush. Alternative etymology derives hurry as a variant of harry.

Idioms1 entry

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