hurry 1 of 2

noun

Definition of hurrynext
1
as in hustle
excited and often showy or disorderly speed after all her hurry to get her report done on time, Elizabeth learned that it wasn't due till the following week

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2
as in speed
a high rate of movement or performance a person who does everything in a hurry

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity in all the hurry of the modern world, people tend to forget what's really important

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hurry

2 of 2

verb

ˈhər-ē How to pronounce hurry (audio)
1
as in to rush
to cause to move or proceed fast or faster the new nurses were hurried through the orientation program because they were so desperately needed on the ward

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to scurry
to proceed or move quickly if we hurry, we'll make the four o'clock train

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun hurry contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of hurry are dispatch, expedition, haste, and speed. While all these words mean "quickness in movement or action," hurry often has a strong suggestion of agitated bustle or confusion.

in the hurry of departure she forgot her toothbrush

How do expedition and dispatch relate to one another, in the sense of hurry?

Expedition and dispatch both imply speed and efficiency in handling affairs but expedition stresses ease or efficiency of performance and dispatch stresses promptness in concluding matters.

the case came to trial with expedition
paid bills with dispatch

When can haste be used instead of hurry?

The words haste and hurry can be used in similar contexts, but haste applies to personal action and implies urgency and precipitancy and often rashness.

marry in haste

Where would speed be a reasonable alternative to hurry?

Although the words speed and hurry have much in common, speed suggests swift efficiency in movement or action.

exercises to increase your reading speed

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hurry
Noun
Two years into her reign, in 2024, an insider revealed that Camilla wasn’t in any hurry to step away. — Starr Bowenbank, InStyle, 18 July 2026 Prairiewolf has always seemed bent on finding new territory while being in no particular hurry to get there. — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 17 July 2026
Verb
Dogs being hurried out of the apartment building by their owners wagged their tails, excited by the commotion. — Jen Guadarrama, IndyStar, 15 Aug. 2026 For three consecutive evenings, just before dark, this bird zipped to the dining table, gobbled down a quick meal, then hurried back to its roost. — Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hurry
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurry
  1. hustle
  2. speed
  3. commotion
  4. rush
  5. scurry
  6. haste
  7. velocity
  8. stir
Noun
  • Glenwood Springs is also just two and a half hours from the hustle and bustle of Denver.
    — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Zisman gave up the sideman hustle years ago but has kept a foot in the scene by accompanying vocalist Kim Nalley, a chair he’s held down for decades.
    — Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of hustle
Noun
  • Lennon is electric, but technically Stone is Antioch’s speed back.
    — Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The rise lifted some components of the index into overbought territory, as measured by the relative strength index (RSI), a momentum indicator that tracks the speed and size of price changes.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of speed
Noun
  • The Canadian singer caused a commotion with her ensemble, showing off a head-to-toe Alaïa ensemble from the upcoming Archetypes spring 2027 collection.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 29 Aug. 2026
  • There was no illness or injury, Krauss said, but the dog seemed ready to step away from the crowds and commotion.
    — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of commotion
Verb
  • When Conforto returned to Williamsport with the Mets in 2018, all those moments came rushing back.
    — Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The microscopic amoeba thrives in warm freshwater and can cause a neurological infection when water containing the amoeba rushes through the nose and reaches the brain, according to the state health department.
    — Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of rush
Verb
  • Hikers often spot these charismatic creatures perched on boulders or scurrying through wildflowers.
    — Brittany Peterson, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Inside Botánica Santo Tomas in Wilton Manors, store owner Héctor Giovanni Pizarro Santana sweeps the floor as his tiny Chihuahua, Bella, scurries behind him.
    — Delia Sauer, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of scurry
Noun
  • Now, if Simone was brought back at more than the minimum, then a case could have been made about haste.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Every other guest of the resort should get a full refund, post-haste.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of haste
Noun
  • His velocity hit 97 mph on Tuesday night, and the sweeper he’s tinkered with since entering pro ball has become more comfortable this season.
    — Tim Britton, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Auriga can, for example, alter launch velocity depending on the mass of the projectile, the required range and the type of target being engaged.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of velocity
Noun
  • Among them was a Washington think tank that caused a stir with a paper that proposed capping annual Social Security benefits at $100,000 to shore up the retirement trust fund.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Just over 100 years later, Genesis executives posted up at the same historic place aiming to once again cause a stir.
    — Marco Della Cava, Robb Report, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of stir

Phrases Containing hurry

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hurries
hurry
hurrying
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Cite this Entry

“Hurry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurry. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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