Word
rush
Phoneticsrush
US/ˈɹəʃ/
UK/ɹˈʌʃ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a sudden, strong feeling of excitement or energy. It can also mean a situation where you have to move or act very quickly because you are in a hurry.
n. a sudden surge of intense physiological or emotional sensation; alternatively, a period of hurried activity or rapid movement. Often associated with the immediate effects of a stimulant or a high-pressure situation.
Examples
“I felt a sudden rush of adrenaline during the race.”
“There is always a huge rush of customers just before the shop closes for the weekend.”
“The initial rush of success can be intoxicating, but it often masks the underlying structural challenges that a new business must eventually face to survive.”
Examples
simple
“I felt a sudden rush of adrenaline during the race.”
contextual
“There is always a huge rush of customers just before the shop closes for the weekend.”
complex
“The initial rush of success can be intoxicating, but it often masks the underlying structural challenges that a new business must eventually face to survive.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “rush” in context.
Verb
01. anticipate rush
“The shop hired extra staff to anticipate the Christmas rush.”
verb + noun
02. avoid rush
“We should set off now if we want to avoid the rush at the station.”
verb + noun
03. feel rush
“He felt a rush of relief when he saw that his family was safe.”
verb + noun
04. rush begins
“The holiday rush begins as soon as the schools close for summer.”
noun + verb
Adjective
05. adrenalinerush
“Extreme sports fans live for the adrenaline rush of a base jump.”
noun + noun
06. mad rush
“There was a mad rush for the exits when the fire alarm went off.”
adj + noun
07. morning rush
“I try to leave early to avoid the morning rush on the motorway.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. rush of blood
“In a sudden rush of blood to the head, he resigned from his job.”
noun + prep + noun
09. rush of excitement
“The news brought a rush of excitement to the quiet village.”
noun + prep + noun
10. be in a rush
“I'm sorry I can't talk right now, I'm in a bit of a rush.”
11. beat the rush
“Let's get to the restaurant early so we can beat the rush.”
12. rush of pure joy
“Winning the race gave her a rush of pure joy.”
Usage
Commonly used in the singular with an indefinite article ('a rush') when describing a feeling or a busy period.
Pitfall
I am in rush
I am in a rush
When used to mean being in a hurry, the noun is countable and requires the indefinite article 'a'.
Real-World Examples
“The goalkeeper sits on the turf and signals for the physio, the other players rush to the technical area for a team talk.” “Why rush to the answer when there are 40 more years of questions ahead?” “When Trunk posted some on Instagram in May, the rush of responses suggested there was a book in this.” Etymology
* As an English surname, from the noun rush (“waterside plant, plant in marshes”). * Also as an English surname, from the archaic noun rush (“beehive”), from French ruche. * As an Irish surname, from Ó Ruis (literally “descendant of Ros”), a name from ros (“wood”). Sometimes also translated from Ó Luachra due to confusion with luachair (“rushes”), see Loughrey. * Also as an Irish surname, translated/Anglicized from Ó Fuada (literally “descendant of Fuada”), compare Foody, from the noun fuad (“haste”). * As a German surname, Americanized from Rüsch, Ruesch, Rusch.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
Idioms
The word in film
Rush · 2013 · Action
- Directed by:
- Ron Howard
- Starring:
- Olivia Wilde, Natalie Dormer, Daniel Brühl
Ron Howard directs this biographical action drama about the intense rivalry between two famous Formula One drivers. The title captures the extreme physical excitement and speed these athletes experience while racing their cars at dangerous limits.
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/rush