haste
B2Formal to neutral. More common in written than spontaneous spoken English.
Definition
Meaning
Excessive speed or urgency of movement or action, often resulting in carelessness.
A state of hurried action or movement, sometimes implying necessity but often with negative consequences of poor judgment or lack of care.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Typically has a negative connotation, suggesting rushed, poorly considered action. Contrasts with positive 'speed' or 'promptness'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The proverbial phrase 'More haste, less speed' is more common in UK English. The verb form 'hasten' is equally used.
Connotations
Slightly more literary in both varieties. The negative connotation is consistent.
Frequency
Marginally higher frequency in British corpus data, but not statistically significant for learners.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to do something in hasteto make haste to + INFwith (adj) hastehaste in doing somethingVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “More haste, less speed”
- “Haste makes waste”
- “Marry in haste, repent at leisure”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used cautiously, often to warn against rushed decisions: 'The board advised against undue haste in the merger.'
Academic
Used in historical/literary analysis or critiques of process: 'The legislation was passed with unseemly haste.'
Everyday
Often in fixed phrases or proverbs: 'I left in such haste I forgot my keys.'
Technical
Rare. Potentially in project management to describe a rushed phase.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- 'Hasten' is the verb form, as in 'We must hasten our departure.'
- He hastened to add that he meant no offence.
American English
- 'Hasten' is the verb form, as in 'I hastened to correct the error.'
- The news hastened the collapse of negotiations.
adverb
British English
- 'Hastily' is the adverb, as in 'She dressed hastily'.
- The report was hastily written.
American English
- 'Hastily' is the adverb, as in 'He hastily agreed'.
- The amendments were hastily added.
adjective
British English
- 'Hasty' is the adjective, as in 'a hasty decision'.
- He regretted his hasty words.
American English
- 'Hasty' is the adjective, as in 'a hasty retreat'.
- Don't be hasty in your judgment.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He left in haste.
- In her haste, she dropped the bag.
- The letter was written in great haste.
- More haste often means less speed.
- The government acted with undue haste, failing to consult the public.
- She regretted the haste with which she had accepted the job offer.
- The critic lamented the cultural shift towards immediacy and its attendant haste, which precludes deep reflection.
- His haste was born not of efficiency but of a profound anxiety about being perceived as indecisive.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HASTE sounds like 'HASTE' - you 'HASTE' to do something, but it might leave a bad 'TASTE' because it's done poorly.
Conceptual Metaphor
HASTE IS A DANGEROUS FORCE (it leads to waste, error, regret). HASTE IS A LIQUID (we can be 'flooded' or 'swept along' by it).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating Russian 'спешка' always as 'haste'. 'Haste' is more negative. For neutral 'speed', use 'hurry' or 'rush'.
- The Russian word 'поспешность' is a closer conceptual match for the negative sense of 'haste'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'haste' as a verb (incorrect: 'I will haste home'; correct: 'I will hasten home' or 'I will hurry home').
- Using it in a positive context (incorrect: 'Thanks for your haste reply'; correct: 'Thanks for your prompt reply').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'haste' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily negative. It implies excessive, often careless speed. For positive 'quick action', use 'promptness', 'efficiency', or 'alacrity'.
No. The modern verb is 'hasten'. 'Haste' as a verb is archaic (e.g., 'Haste thee, nymph!'). Use 'hasten', 'hurry', or 'rush'.
'Haste' is more formal and more strongly implies negative consequences. 'Hurry' is more neutral and common in everyday speech ('I'm in a hurry').
Yes, but it is formal, literary, or humorous. In everyday speech, 'hurry up' is far more common. ('Make haste, the train is leaving!')