harry
harry
Pronunciation
Here is the phonetic spelling and a detailed breakdown of the word harry.
IPA Phonetic Spelling:
American English: /ˈhɛri/ or /ˈhæri/
British English: /ˈhæri/
Syllable Breakdown:
The word "harry" is broken down into two syllables: har-ry.
har- (/hɛr/ or /hær/): This syllable begins with the /h/ sound, a voiceless puff of air made in the throat (as in "hat"). It is followed by a vowel, which can be either the /ɛ/ sound (as in "bed") or the /æ/ sound (as in "cat"), followed by the rhotic approximant /r/ sound (as in "run").
-ry (/i/): The second syllable consists of the tense high front vowel /i/, which sounds like the "ee" in "see".
Word Form Variations
Verb (base form): harry
Verb (third-person singular): harries
Verb (past tense): harried
Verb (past participle): harried
Verb (present participle): harrying
Adjective: harried
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb (transitive)
To persistently torment, annoy, or distress someone with repeated demands, questions, or interruptions.
Synonyms: pester, harass, badger, hound, plague, bother, vex
Antonyms: soothe, comfort, reassure, aid, assist, relieve
To repeatedly attack, raid, or pillage an enemy's territory, laying waste to it over time.
Synonyms: ravage, despoil, raid, assail, devastate
Antonyms: protect, defend, fortify, guard
Adjective (harried)
Feeling strained, stressed, and overwhelmed due to having too many responsibilities or facing constant pressure.
Synonyms: frazzled, stressed, beleaguered, agitated, overwhelmed, flustered
Antonyms: calm, relaxed, serene, untroubled, composed
Noun (Proper)
A common masculine given name, often used as a diminutive or nickname for Henry or Harold.
Examples of Use
The word harry and its variations appear across many contexts, from historical accounts of warfare to modern descriptions of daily stress and, most famously, as a proper name in popular culture.
As a Verb (to harry/harrying)
This form is used to describe persistent annoyance or relentless attacks.
In Books: Historical texts often use this word to describe military tactics. "For two long years, the guerrilla fighters would harry the flanks of the invading army, never engaging in a full battle but constantly draining their resources and morale." (Bernard Cornwell, The Fort).
In Newspapers: Journalism frequently employs "harry" to characterize relentless questioning or political pressure. "Throughout the press conference, reporters harried the senator with questions about his involvement in the scandal, refusing to let him change the subject." (The Washington Post, May 2024).
In Sports Commentary: Announcers use it to describe defensive pressure. "The team’s strategy was clear: harry the quarterback on every play. The relentless pressure from the defensive line didn't allow him a moment to get comfortable in the pocket." (ESPN broadcast).
As an Adjective (harried)
This form describes a state of being stressed, rushed, or worn out.
In Film and Television: Characters are often described this way to quickly convey their state of mind. "The opening scene introduces the protagonist as a harried parent, frantically trying to get three kids ready for school while taking a work call."
In Online Publications: Lifestyle articles and blogs use it to describe the pressures of modern life. "A constant barrage of emails and notifications leaves many office workers feeling perpetually harried and unable to focus on deep work." (Vox, January 2025).
In General Discourse: It's common to hear people describe their feelings this way. "Sorry I'm late, it was a completely harried morning; the train was delayed and I spilled coffee all over myself."
As a Proper Noun (Harry)
As a name, Harry is one of the most recognizable in the world, largely due to literature and public figures.
In Literature: The name is globally synonymous with the protagonist of the best-selling book series. "But Harry had never been able to forget the dream; he had had it several times since." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire).
In Entertainment: The name is prominent in music and film. "Harry Styles captivated the sold-out stadium with his energetic performance and charismatic stage presence." (Rolling Stone, August 2025). Clint Eastwood's iconic role as inspector "Dirty Harry" Callahan defined the archetype of the tough, uncompromising cop.
Among Public Figures: The name is famously associated with British royalty. "Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, has become a vocal advocate for mental health awareness." (BBC News, October 2024).
10 Famous Quotes Using Harry
Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!' (William Shakespeare, Henry V)
I have been harried since the day I was born. (Homer, The Odyssey)
He resolved to harry the retreating Russians and anticipate their arrival at the bridges. (Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace)
The first is that we must not harry the enemy. (Mao Zedong, On Protracted War)
It may be that the night will close over us, and that we shall be preserved in a state of darkness and misery, constantly harrying one another. (H.G. Wells, The War of the Worlds)
He looked harried and anxious, and I saw he was not likely to be very good company. (Arthur Conan Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles)
The most harried man in the world is the successor to a man of genius. (Elbert Hubbard)
For the sea, that harries us and devours us, is a part of us. (Kahlil Gibran, The Voice of the Master)
A harried mind is not a creative one. (Original)
The constant notifications from his phone began to harry him more than his actual workload. (Original)
Etymology
The word harry has a surprisingly aggressive and military origin that stretches back over a thousand years.
It comes directly from the Old English word hergian, which meant "to make war, to lay waste, to raid, or to plunder." The first known uses of this word appear in texts from before the Norman Conquest of 1066, making it a true native of the English language.
The key to understanding its original meaning is that hergian itself comes from an even older word: here, the Old English for "army." So, when people in the Anglo-Saxon era used the word hergian, they literally meant "to act as an army does." Think of historical accounts of Viking raids—that is the original spirit of the word: to overrun a place with armed forces, devastating it through constant attacks. This same root word for army, here, is also the ancestor of the modern German word for army, Heer.
Over many centuries, the meaning of "harry" softened and became more personal. The idea of a large-scale, relentless military attack was downsized to describe any kind of persistent, tormenting action. The core concept of wearing someone down through repeated hostile acts remained, but the scale changed.
So, when we use the word today to mean "to persistently annoy or bother," we are using a word that once described the ravaging of a whole territory by an army. The thread connecting the past and present is the idea of a continuous, distressing assault—whether it's an army attacking a coastline or just a person pestering you with endless questions.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Harry
Phrases & Idioms with 'Harry' 👹
While "harry" isn't found in many common, set idioms, it appears in several historical phrases and modern collocations.
Old Harry: A classic and somewhat dated euphemism for the Devil.
To harry from pillar to post: To relentlessly pursue or harass someone from one place to another.
Play the Harry: An archaic phrase meaning to plunder, create havoc, or act destructively.
A harried expression: A common description for a look of stress, worry, and exhaustion.
To harry the opposition: A phrase often used in sports or politics to mean persistently pressuring an opponent.
Idioms with a Similar Meaning
These common idioms capture the persistent, annoying essence of the verb "to harry."
Breathe down someone's neck: To watch and monitor someone's actions too closely, making them feel pressured.
Badger someone to death: To pester someone with so many questions or requests that they become extremely annoyed.
Get on someone's case: To repeatedly criticize or nag a person about something they have done or should be doing.
Hound someone out of (a place or position): To force someone to leave through constant criticism and pressure.
Pester the life out of someone: To annoy a person endlessly until you get what you want.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of harry from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
