hurry
hurry
Pronunciation
/ˈhʌri/
Syllable Breakdown:
Hur-: /ˈhʌ/
/h/ - voiceless glottal fricative
/ʌ/ - near-open central unrounded vowel (as in "cup")
-ry: /ri/
/r/ - alveolar approximant (or retroflex approximant, depending on dialect)
/i/ - close front unrounded vowel (as in "fleece")
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base form: hurry
Third-person singular present: hurries
Present participle: hurrying
Past simple: hurried
Past participle: hurried
Noun:
Singular: hurry
Plural: hurries
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To move or act with great speed or urgency.
Synonyms: rush, hasten, scurry, dash, sprint
Antonyms: linger, dawdle, tarry, delay, stroll
To cause someone or something to move or act quickly; to expedite.
Synonyms: expedite, speed up, accelerate, quicken, push
Antonyms: delay, impede, slow down, hinder, obstruct
Noun
A state of urgency or a need for speed; a rush.
Synonyms: rush, haste, urgency, bustle, scramble
Antonyms: leisure, calm, slowness, deliberation, tranquility
The act of moving or doing something quickly.
Synonyms: dash, sprint, scamper, bolt, spurt
Antonyms: crawl, creep, stroll, saunter, mosey
Examples of Use
Books
"There was no hurry, for the boy was not going anywhere he had not gone many times before." (Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea, 1952) - Here, "hurry" is used as a noun, referring to a sense of urgency.
"Don't hurry, don't worry. You're only here for a short visit. So be sure to stop and smell the flowers." (Walter Hagen, The Walter Hagen Story, 1956) - Used as a verb, advising against rushing.
"He tried to hurry his steps, but his legs felt heavy, as if made of lead." (J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, 1997) - Verb use, describing an attempt to quicken one's pace.
Newspapers
"The government is in a hurry to pass the new legislation before the parliamentary recess next month." (The Standard, "Parliament Scrambles to Pass Bills Ahead of Recess”) - Noun use, indicating urgency in political action.
"Commuters were advised to hurry if they wanted to catch the last train from Nairobi to Naivasha." (Daily Nation, "Peak Hour Rush: Last Train Scramble," May 28, 2025) - Verb use, instructing people to move quickly.
"With the long weekend approaching, many Kenyans are in a hurry to finalize their travel plans." (Business Daily Africa, "Long Weekend Travel Plans in High Gear,") - Noun use, reflecting a common consumer behavior.
Online Publications
"In a hurry to get your holiday shopping done? Our guide offers tips for efficient gift-buying." (Lifehacker.com, "Speedy Holiday Shopping Tips,") - Noun use in a common online advice format.
"Why you should resist the hurry to monetize your passion project too soon." (Forbes.com, "The Perils of Premature Monetization,") - Noun use, discussing a common pitfall in entrepreneurial endeavors.
"Don't hurry to judgment. Take time to understand all perspectives." (Harvard Business Review Online, "The Art of Deliberate Decision-Making,") - Verb use, advising caution in forming opinions.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Film: "We're in a hurry! Get to the choppa!" (Arnold Schwarzenegger as Dutch Schaefer in Predator, 1987) - Noun use, emphasizing the immediate need for rapid action in a high-stakes situation.
Television Series: "There's no need to hurry; we have all day to finish this assignment." (A character in The Office (US), Season 3, Episode "The Negotiation") - Verb use, indicating a lack of urgency.
Song Lyrics: "I can't hurry love, no, you just have to wait." (The Supremes, "You Can't Hurry Love," 1966) - Verb use, often found in popular music to convey emotional or relational themes.
Video Games: "You must hurry and collect all the artifacts before time runs out!" (Instructional text in a popular adventure game, e.g., Uncharted series or Tomb Raider) - Verb use, commonly employed to create time pressure in gameplay.
Podcast: "Our guest today talks about the importance of not being in a constant hurry in the pursuit of success." (From a recent episode of "The Tim Ferriss Show,") - Noun use, discussing a broader life philosophy.
Social Media Post (X/Twitter): "Don't be in a hurry to retweet misinformation. Always verify first!" (A common public service announcement tweet, often from news organizations, e.g., @KBCChannel1) - Noun use, advising caution in online sharing.
General Public Discourse
"No hurry, take your time." (A common colloquial phrase said to someone who is performing a task, indicating there's no pressure.) - Noun use, demonstrating an everyday expression of patience.
"Let's hurry up, or we'll miss the matatu!" (Heard from a parent to their child on the streets of Juja, Kenya.) - Verb use, a direct command to increase speed in a common local scenario.
"Sorry for the hurry, but I have another meeting to get to at Parliament Buildings." (Said by a civil servant rushing out of an office in Nairobi.) - Noun use, apologizing for a rushed departure.
"Don't hurry, be happy." (A popular motto or idiom often seen on merchandise or in casual advice.) - Verb use, advocating for a more relaxed approach to life.
10 Famous Quotes Using Hurry
"There is no hurry; the stars will wait for us." (Victor Hugo, Les Misérables)
"Don't hurry, don't worry. You're only here for a short visit. So be sure to stop and smell the flowers." (Walter Hagen)
"Why all this hurry and what's the end of it?" (Henry David Thoreau, Walden)
"You can't hurry love, no, you just have to wait." (The Supremes, "You Can't Hurry Love")
"Only the weak are ever in a hurry." (From a proverb, often attributed to Chinese or Japanese wisdom)
"Life is lived in the hurry and scurry of daily chores, not in the contemplation of the ultimate." (Agnes Repplier)
"To be always in a hurry is a symptom of an ill-regulated mind." (Francis Bacon)
"My God, I'm in a hurry. The older I get, the more I'm in a hurry. I'm in a hurry to live." (Yevgeny Yevtushenko)
"The more we hurry, the less time we have." (African proverb, often heard in local discourse)
"Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why." (Eddie Cantor - While not using "hurry," this quote metaphorically advises against the state of being in a hurry.)
Etymology
The word "hurry" has a somewhat mysterious but interesting origin. It first appeared in English as a verb in the late 1500s, with William Shakespeare being one of the earliest known writers to use it (around 1594).
Its exact root is uncertain, but it's believed to have come from an older Middle English word, "horien," which meant "to rush" or "to push quickly." This "horien" likely came from an even older Germanic word, possibly related to *hurzaną, which meant "to rush" or "to move with haste." You can see similar ideas in old German words like "hurren" (to hasten) or Norwegian "hurre" (to whirl around).
Some linguists also suggest it might be linked to words that imitate sounds of rapid movement or buzzing, like how insects might "hurr." Others even consider it a variation of "harry," which means to harass or torment, suggesting a connection to driving something forward.
So, when "hurry" first showed up, it meant what it generally means today: to move or cause to move quickly, to hasten, or to act with urgency. It's about speeding things up or being in a state of rapid action.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Hurry
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "hurry," including some common ones and variations for similar effect:
In a hurry: To be doing something quickly, or to be pressed for time.
Example: "I'm in a hurry, so I can't talk right now."
No hurry: No need to rush; take your time.
Example: "There's no hurry, the shop doesn't close for another hour."
Hurry up: To move or act more quickly. (Often an imperative command)
Example: "Hurry up! We're going to be late."
To hurry along: To cause something to progress more quickly; to encourage someone to move faster.
Example: "We need to hurry this project along if we want to meet the deadline."
To hurry off: To leave quickly.
Example: "She had to hurry off to catch her flight."
To hurry through (something): To do something very quickly, often without much care or attention.
Example: "Don't just hurry through your homework; make sure it's correct."
What's the hurry?: A question implying there's no need to rush.
Example: "You're running so fast, what's the hurry?"
To make haste: (Using a synonym) To move or act quickly.
Example: "We must make haste if we are to reach the summit by noon."
To be in a rush: (Using a synonym) To be in a state of urgency or needing to move quickly.
Example: "Everyone was in a rush to leave the office on Friday afternoon."
A mad dash/hurry: A frantic and very quick movement or effort.
Example: "It was a mad dash to get the report finished before the presentation."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of hurry from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
