: any of various monocotyledonous often tufted marsh plants (as of the genera Juncus and Luzula of the family Juncaceae, the rush family) with cylindrical often hollow stems which are used in bottoming chairs and plaiting mats
rushed; rushing; rushes
1
: to move forward, progress, or act with haste or eagerness or without preparation
2
: to advance a football by running plays
rushed for a total of 150 yards
1
: to push or impel on or forward with speed, impetuosity, or violence
2
: to perform in a short time or at high speed
3
: to urge to an unnatural or extreme speed
don't rush me
4
: to run toward or against in attack : charge
5
a
: to carry (a ball) forward in a running play
b
: to move in quickly on (a kicker or passer) to hinder, prevent, or block a kick or pass
—used especially of defensive linemen
6
a
: to lavish attention on : court
b
: to try to secure a pledge of membership (as in a fraternity) from
2
a
: a burst of activity, productivity, or speed
b
: a sudden insistent demand
3
: a thronging of people usually to a new place in search of wealth
a gold rush
4
a
: the act of carrying a football during a game : running play
b
: the action or an instance of rushing a passer or kicker in football
a pass rush
5
a
: a round of attention usually involving extensive social activity
b
: a drive by a fraternity or sorority to recruit new members
6
: a print of a motion-picture scene processed directly after the shooting for review by the director or producer : daily sense 3
—usually used in plural
7
a
: the immediate pleasurable feeling produced by a drug (such as heroin or cocaine)
called also flash
… stimulants found in the bath salts provide a rush similar to cocaine or methamphetamine.—
Larry Oakes
Larry Oakes
b
: a surge in energy following the intake of sugar or caffeine
The sugar rush has many causes, but one of the most important was the invention of high-fructose corn syrup in 1957.—Tiffany O'Callaghan
Tiffany O'CallaghanDrink one fast and you might experience brain freeze and a caffeine rush at the same time.—Margaret McCormick
Margaret McCormick
c
: a sudden feeling of intense pleasure or excitement : thrill
… boys and girls around the country still get a rush out of zipping downhill in hand-made cars at speeds up to 30 mph.—Rene Romo
Rene Romo
: requiring or marked by special speed or urgency
rush orders
the rush season
a rush job
Synonyms
Examples of rush in a Sentence
Verb
Firefighters rushed to the accident scene.
The children rushed down the stairs.
I rushed home from work to get ready for the party.
She rushed to close the window when she heard the rain.
We were rushing to catch the bus.
He got nervous because they rushed him.
He rushed through his work and made a lot of careless mistakes.
Water rushed through the pipes.
The rushing water broke through the barrier.
Noun (2)
what's the reason for all this rush?
the regiment recaptured the hill with a single rush
riding my motorcycle over these winding roads is always an adrenaline-pumping rush
Recent Examples on the WebJordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 May 2024
Now, as these start-ups mature and don’t appear to be in a rush to go public, a wider range of investors are becoming eager to own their stock.
—Erin Griffith, New York Times, 6 May 2024
True to his word, the broadcast — the latest of Netflix’s recent experiments with live programming — had some visible hiccups, including sound issues and a palpable rush through the final stretch to wrap the show around the hour mark.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 4 May 2024
As temperatures rise and mountain snow melts and rushes into the valleys, many of Idaho’s peaceful rivers quickly turn into a turbulent rush.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 4 May 2024
The Colorado legislature began its mad rush into weekend work on Friday as the end of the 2024 session comes into sight, with plenty of major legislation still unfinished.
—Bruce Finley, The Denver Post, 3 May 2024
The rush to hire AI talent would eventually spread beyond the tech sector to virtually every industry in the corporate world.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 2 May 2024
Still, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to queue up this summer to launch more than 400 feet in the air at 100-plus-mph, free-fall backward, shoot up again — and plunge, spiral-twisting headfirst back down to earth, feeling the wind in their face and a death-defying rush.
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 2 May 2024
Gambling has in recent years moved from a fringe activity into the mainstream thanks in large part to the legalization of sports gambling in many states, leading to a rush of apps and advertising that has caused some concerns about rises in problem gambling.
—Noah Osborne, NBC News, 30 Apr. 2024
Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
Some plot events are rushed, as when our dysfunctional quintet leaves Gatsby’s party and heads directly to the Plaza.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
Men in hard hats rushed to hang giant LED screens twice their size.
—Kat Bein, SPIN, 26 Apr. 2024
During the incident, two inmates rushed to attack a third.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 26 Apr. 2024
He’s been highly productive for the National Champions (58 career rushing touchdowns) and has natural hands as a receiver.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2024
Elliott played last season with New England Patriots, rushing for 642 yards on 184 carries, for a career-low average of 3.5 yards per carry in a back-up role.
—Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Apr. 2024
On his 16th birthday, Williams threw three touchdowns, rushed for two more and even caught a touchdown – to help the Eagles win their first WCAC title since 2002.
—Rhiannon Walker, NPR, 25 Apr. 2024
Ben Cawthra / Sipa USA via AP First responders rushed to the scene and treated two people for injuries, the London Ambulance Service said.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 24 Apr. 2024
Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 7 Aug. 2023
This is has not been rush mode.
—Evan Grant, Dallas News, 25 Mar. 2023
Others were rush jobs.
—Rolling Stone, 27 Dec. 2022
Does Kimberly know not attending one pre-rush event won’t disqualify you from actually rushing?
—Ashley Bardhan, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2021
Noun
And then Bruins defenseman Brandon Carlo put Boston up 3-1 with 21 seconds left in the period with a shot from the top of the right circle with the Panthers out of position to defend the Bruins’ rush.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 7 May 2024
Now, as these start-ups mature and don’t appear to be in a rush to go public, a wider range of investors are becoming eager to own their stock.
—Erin Griffith, New York Times, 6 May 2024
True to his word, the broadcast — the latest of Netflix’s recent experiments with live programming — had some visible hiccups, including sound issues and a palpable rush through the final stretch to wrap the show around the hour mark.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 4 May 2024
As temperatures rise and mountain snow melts and rushes into the valleys, many of Idaho’s peaceful rivers quickly turn into a turbulent rush.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 4 May 2024
The Colorado legislature began its mad rush into weekend work on Friday as the end of the 2024 session comes into sight, with plenty of major legislation still unfinished.
—Bruce Finley, The Denver Post, 3 May 2024
The rush to hire AI talent would eventually spread beyond the tech sector to virtually every industry in the corporate world.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 2 May 2024
Still, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to queue up this summer to launch more than 400 feet in the air at 100-plus-mph, free-fall backward, shoot up again — and plunge, spiral-twisting headfirst back down to earth, feeling the wind in their face and a death-defying rush.
—Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press, 2 May 2024
Gambling has in recent years moved from a fringe activity into the mainstream thanks in large part to the legalization of sports gambling in many states, leading to a rush of apps and advertising that has caused some concerns about rises in problem gambling.
—Noah Osborne, NBC News, 30 Apr. 2024
Verb
First responders rush to the scene of daily strikes, despite deadly loss that has touched their ranks, even their own families.
—Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
Some plot events are rushed, as when our dysfunctional quintet leaves Gatsby’s party and heads directly to the Plaza.
—Christian Lewis, Variety, 26 Apr. 2024
Men in hard hats rushed to hang giant LED screens twice their size.
—Kat Bein, SPIN, 26 Apr. 2024
During the incident, two inmates rushed to attack a third.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 26 Apr. 2024
He’s been highly productive for the National Champions (58 career rushing touchdowns) and has natural hands as a receiver.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2024
Elliott played last season with New England Patriots, rushing for 642 yards on 184 carries, for a career-low average of 3.5 yards per carry in a back-up role.
—Clarence E. Hill Jr., Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Apr. 2024
On his 16th birthday, Williams threw three touchdowns, rushed for two more and even caught a touchdown – to help the Eagles win their first WCAC title since 2002.
—Rhiannon Walker, NPR, 25 Apr. 2024
Ben Cawthra / Sipa USA via AP First responders rushed to the scene and treated two people for injuries, the London Ambulance Service said.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 24 Apr. 2024
Adjective
The difference-maker on defense will again be rush end Jared Verse, coming off a nine-sack campaign in his first year in Tallahassee.
—Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 7 Aug. 2023
This is has not been rush mode.
—Evan Grant, Dallas News, 25 Mar. 2023
Others were rush jobs.
—Rolling Stone, 27 Dec. 2022
Does Kimberly know not attending one pre-rush event won’t disqualify you from actually rushing?
—Ashley Bardhan, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2021
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rush.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rush
Cite this Entry
“Rush.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rush. Accessed 10 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rush
1 of 4 noun
: any of various marsh plants that are monocotyledons often having hollow stems sometimes used to weave chair seats and mats
rush
2 of 4 verb1
: to move forward or act with haste or eagerness
2
: to perform in a short time or at high speed
rushed the job through
3
: to urge on to greater speed
don't rush me
4
: to run toward or against in attack : charge
rusher
noun
rush
3 of 4 noun1
: a violent forward motion
a rush of wind
2
: a burst of activity or speed
3
: an eager migration of people usually to a new place in search of wealth
the gold rush
rush
4 of 4 adjective
: demanding special speed or hurry
rush orders
the rush season
Etymology
Noun
Old English rysc "the rush plant"
Verb
Middle English russhen "to rush," from early French ruser "to drive off, repulse," from Latin recusare "to oppose"
Medical Definition
rush
noun1
: a rapid and extensive wave of peristalsis along the walls of the intestine
peristaltic rush
2
: the immediate pleasurable feeling produced by a drug (as heroin or amphetamine)
called also flash
Biographical Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share