# Hye

/haɪ/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hye
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

to move quickly or hurry. It is an old word that you mostly see in very old stories or poems.

For teachers: to move with haste or to hasten. Primarily found in archaic or poetic contexts; often used reflexively with 'thee' or 'me'.

## Examples

- The knight must hye to the castle before sunset.
- In the old ballad, the messenger was told to hye to the king with news of the victory.
- Though the sun began to set behind the jagged peaks, the weary travelers knew they must hye toward the village if they hoped to find shelter for the night.

## Usage notes

- The verb is intransitive or reflexive. In modern English, it is almost exclusively restricted to historical fiction or literary pastiche.

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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.