hurry
- 01 A2 Elementary
v.to move or act fast because you are in a rush.
v.to move, proceed, or act with haste, often due to time constraints.
Simple“We need to hurry if we want to catch the last train home.”
In context“The commuters hurried through the station, barely glancing at the departures board as the final whistle blew for the express service.”
UsageOften used as an intransitive verb or with 'up' to increase speed.
- 02 B1 Intermediate
v.to make someone else move or finish something more quickly.
v.to urge or impel someone to greater speed or more rapid action.
Simple“Don't hurry me while I am trying to finish this difficult task.”
In context“The manager attempted to hurry the design team, but they insisted that rushing the final phase would compromise the product's safety.”
UsageTransitive use; takes a direct object.
Synonyms - 03 A2 Elementary
n.the need to move or act quickly.
n.a state of urgency or eagerness that requires rapid action.
Simple“I am in a hurry because my meeting starts in five minutes.”
In context“In his hurry to leave the office before the storm broke, he inadvertently left his laptop charger plugged into the wall.”
UsageCommonly used in the fixed expression 'in a hurry'.
PitfallI am in hurry. I am in a hurry.In the common phrase 'in a hurry', you must include the indefinite article 'a'.
- 04 C2 Proficiency
n.when a defensive player forces the quarterback to throw the ball too early.
n.an instance of defensive pressure that forces a quarterback to release the ball prematurely.
Simple“The defense got a hurry on the quarterback, causing an incomplete pass.”
In context“Despite failing to record a sack, the defensive end's consistent hurries disrupted the offensive rhythm throughout the second half.”
Synonyms - 05 C2 Proficiency
n.fast music played during an exciting or scary scene in a play.
n.a rapid, tremolando musical passage intended to accompany an exciting or tense stage situation.
Simple“The orchestra played a hurry as the hero chased the villain across the stage.”
In context“The conductor signaled for a violin hurry to heighten the tension during the climactic sword fight in the third act.”
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.