# hustle

/ˈhəsəɫ/ (US) · /hˈʌsəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hustle
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to work hard

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

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

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

- If you want to succeed in this industry, you really have to hustle every day.
- The young entrepreneur had to hustle for three years before her startup finally secured its first round of venture capital funding.

### 2. to move quickly

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

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

For teachers: to move or act with great haste and urgency.

- We need to hustle if we want to catch the last train home.
- The coach screamed at the players to hustle back to their defensive positions after the turnover.

### 3. to swindle

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

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

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

- He tried to hustle the tourists by charging double for the taxi ride.
- The street performer was actually a professional grifter looking to hustle unsuspecting passersby out of their cash.

### 4. busy activity

noun · CEFR B2

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

For teachers: a state of energetic, busy, and often noisy activity.

- I love the hustle and bustle of the market on Saturday mornings.
- After a decade in the quiet countryside, she found the constant hustle of Manhattan both exhilarating and exhausting.

### 5. a way to make money

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Slang

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

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

- Selling vintage clothes online is her favorite side hustle.
- In today's economy, many young professionals maintain a side hustle to supplement their primary income and pursue creative interests.

### 6. a scam

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Slang

a clever or dishonest plan used to cheat someone.

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

- The police warned people about a new phone hustle targeting the elderly.
- The elaborate hustle involved three different accomplices and a fake investment portfolio designed to look legitimate to auditors.

## Examples

- She has a side hustle selling handmade jewelry online.
- The city is full of hustle and bustle, with everyone rushing to their next meeting.
- In today's gig economy, many young professionals maintain a secondary hustle to supplement their primary income and hedge against market volatility.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.