ENGLISH
REFERENCE

hustle

v. · n.
US //ˈhəsəɫ// UK //hˈʌsəl// hus·tle
  1. 1 to work hard (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    to work very hard and with a lot of energy to reach a goal.

    to apply oneself with vigorous effort and initiative toward a professional or personal objective.

    Example

    If you want to succeed in this industry, you really have to hustle every day.

    Example

    The young entrepreneur had to hustle for three years before her startup finally secured its first round of venture capital funding.
  2. 2 to move quickly (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

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

    to move or act with great haste and urgency.

    Example

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

    Example

    The coach screamed at the players to hustle back to their defensive positions after the turnover.
Show 4 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 to swindle (v.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Slang

    to trick or cheat someone, usually to get their money.

    to obtain money or advantage from someone through deceit or a fraudulent scheme.

    Example

    He tried to hustle the tourists by charging double for the taxi ride.

    Example

    The street performer was actually a professional grifter looking to hustle unsuspecting passersby out of their cash.
  2. 4 busy activity (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    a lot of busy activity and noise, especially in a city.

    a state of energetic, busy, and often noisy activity.

    Example

    I love the hustle and bustle of the market on Saturday mornings.

    Example

    After a decade in the quiet countryside, she found the constant hustle of Manhattan both exhilarating and exhausting.
  3. 5 a way to make money (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Slang

    a job or activity you do to earn extra money, often outside your main job.

    a person's way of making money, often implying a side business or an unconventional method of income.

    Example

    Selling vintage clothes online is her favorite side hustle.

    Example

    In today's economy, many young professionals maintain a side hustle to supplement their primary income and pursue creative interests.
  4. 6 a scam (n.)
    C1 Advanced Informal Slang

    a clever or dishonest plan used to cheat someone.

    a deceptive act or fraudulent scheme designed to illicitly acquire money.

    Example

    The police warned people about a new phone hustle targeting the elderly.

    Example

    The elaborate hustle involved three different accomplices and a fake investment portfolio designed to look legitimate to auditors.
Origin

From Dutch husselen or by metathesis from Dutch hutselen (“to shake up”), a frequentative of hutsen (“to stir, to move something (back and forth)”).

Word family
Idioms1 entry

© 2026 English Reference