hurry
B1 (Intermediate)Neutral, common in both spoken and written English across all registers.
Definition
Meaning
to move, act, or do something with great or excessive speed, especially due to a lack of time.
A state of urgency or the action of rushing; can imply a degree of haste that is disorganised or that causes carelessness.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
It can function as a verb, noun, and (less commonly) adjective ('hurried'). Often implies an external time pressure or an internal feeling of urgency. Using 'hurry up' as a phrasal verb imperative is extremely common in informal speech.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Hurry up!' is slightly more frequent as a direct imperative in AmE. In BrE, 'be quick' is a more common alternative imperative.
Connotations
Generally the same. In both, it can imply a mild reprimand when used as a command ('Hurry up!').
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] hurry (adverb/preposition)[Verb] hurry to do something[Verb] hurry someone/something (adverb/preposition)[Noun] be in a hurry[Noun] there is no hurryVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “in a tearing hurry”
- “hurry up and wait”
- “what's the hurry?”
- “more haste, less speed (proverb related to concept)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"We need to hurry this decision to meet the Q3 deadline." (Urgent action)
Academic
The researcher warned against hurrying the peer-review process.
Everyday
"Hurry up or we'll miss the bus!"
Technical
Rare in pure technical contexts; 'expedite' or 'accelerate' are preferred.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- You'd better hurry if you want to catch the last train.
- Don't hurry your food; you'll get indigestion.
- She hurried the children along the pavement.
American English
- We need to hurry to make our dinner reservation.
- Can you hurry that report along? It's due today.
- He hurried out the door without his keys.
adverb
British English
- He walked hurriedly away from the scene.
American English
- She spoke hurriedly, trying to finish before the bell.
adjective
British English
- We had a hurried meeting before the lunch break.
- She scribbled a hurried note and left it on the table.
American English
- After a hurried breakfast, he jumped in the car.
- The apology seemed rushed and hurried.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Please hurry! The film starts soon.
- I am in a hurry to go to school.
- He eats his breakfast in a hurry.
- If we don't hurry, we'll miss the beginning of the show.
- There's no need to hurry; we have plenty of time.
- She was in such a hurry that she forgot her phone.
- The project was completed in a tearing hurry, resulting in several avoidable errors.
- He hurriedly packed his suitcase, fearing he would be late for the airport.
- Don't let them hurry you into making a decision you might regret.
- The government's hurried legislation, passed in response to the crisis, was later found to be deeply flawed.
- A sense of hurried anxiety pervaded the office in the days before the merger.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HARRY (sounds like 'hurry') Potter who is always late for class, so he has to HURRY everywhere.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS A RESOURCE / A PURSUER (e.g., 'Time is running out, I have to hurry').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'worry' (беспокоиться). 'Hurry' is about speed (торопиться), 'worry' is about anxiety.
- The noun 'a hurry' is an abstract state, not a person. 'Я спешу' = 'I am in a hurry/I'm hurrying'.
- Avoid over-literal translation of 'in a hurry' as 'в спешке' when the context calls for a verb.
Common Mistakes
- *I hurry always in the morning. (Word order) -> I'm always in a hurry in the morning.
- *He hurries to not be late. (Infinitive of purpose) -> He hurries so as not to be late.
- Confusing adjective 'hurried' (made quick) with verb form.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a common collocation with 'hurry'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral. In very formal writing, alternatives like 'expedite', 'make haste', or 'proceed urgently' might be used, but 'hurry' is acceptable in most contexts.
They are often interchangeable. 'Rush' can imply a greater intensity, more disorder, or a sudden surge of movement (e.g., 'rush hour'). 'Hurry' is slightly more general and focuses on the speed due to time constraints.
Yes, commonly in the phrase 'in a hurry' (e.g., 'He left in a hurry'). It can also be used as a countable noun (e.g., 'There was a great hurry to finish').
It's a separable phrasal verb meaning 'to make someone or something faster'. As an imperative: 'Hurry up!' To use with an object: 'Can you hurry the kids up?' or 'Can you hurry up the kids?'