: 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.
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Recent Examples on the WebKayla Kitts, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023
Target's knocking up to 50 percent off all its artificial trees before the rush even begins.
—Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2023
His 70-yard TD run was the longest rush by an SDSU quarterback in at least three decades.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2023
At one point, when Deborah from Elan Artists sang ‘Valerie’ by Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse, everyone was on their feet in a train from one room to the other, while flinging with dinner napkins around instilling a rush of energy that led to the after-party.
—Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2023
Much like a storied ocean liner, the majestic Eastern & Oriental Express is a destination unto itself, with a sultry piano bar car; an open-air lounge with wicker furniture where passengers can watch the Malaysian jungle rush by; and two restaurant carriages serving Peranakan food.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2023
That’s encouraging, although solar installers say those numbers reflect a last-minute rush by single-family homes to secure higher incentives before net metering cuts took effect in April.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Also consider returning home late in the day on Friday, before the weekend rush.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 16 Nov. 2023
For some Arab American small-business owners across the state, the last month has brought devastating news from abroad, a heightened level of tension and fear to their daily work routines, but also, at times, a rush of new customers eager to show support with their pocketbooks.
—Marisa Gerber, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023
Liam Canning, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
With the Soviets moving swiftly across Ukraine, the Nazis rushed to destroy all evidence of their crimes; the Soviet prisoners were among 321 captives whom the Nazis ordered to reopen the mass graves and cremate the corpses of Jewish victims just before the Wehrmacht’s withdrawal.
—Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Nov. 2023
This was the best team rushing performance by the Rams since their 2018 playoff win over Dallas.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2023
Baby King, who was rushed to a local hospital, died later that day, according to county prosecutors.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 28 Nov. 2023
Sacramento has rushed to the left in recent decades while Tallahassee has moved to the right.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 28 Nov. 2023
With the four-day truce due to expire Tuesday morning, aid groups rushed to increase deliveries to the enclave and Gazans braced for warplanes to return to the skies.
—Susannah George, Washington Post, 26 Nov. 2023
As for his legs, Diehl had rushed for 1,234 yards and 15 TDs.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2023
Detroit is 7-2 and one of the NFC’s top teams and has an offense that ranks in the top four in both rushing and passing.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
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
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Noun
The Black Opium Illicit Green perfume has notes of black coffee essence with hints of ripe green mandarin and smooth fig, evoking a rush of energy with every spritz.
—Kayla Kitts, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023
Target's knocking up to 50 percent off all its artificial trees before the rush even begins.
—Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 26 Nov. 2023
His 70-yard TD run was the longest rush by an SDSU quarterback in at least three decades.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2023
At one point, when Deborah from Elan Artists sang ‘Valerie’ by Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse, everyone was on their feet in a train from one room to the other, while flinging with dinner napkins around instilling a rush of energy that led to the after-party.
—Alexandra MacOn, Vogue, 17 Nov. 2023
Much like a storied ocean liner, the majestic Eastern & Oriental Express is a destination unto itself, with a sultry piano bar car; an open-air lounge with wicker furniture where passengers can watch the Malaysian jungle rush by; and two restaurant carriages serving Peranakan food.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2023
That’s encouraging, although solar installers say those numbers reflect a last-minute rush by single-family homes to secure higher incentives before net metering cuts took effect in April.
—Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Also consider returning home late in the day on Friday, before the weekend rush.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 16 Nov. 2023
For some Arab American small-business owners across the state, the last month has brought devastating news from abroad, a heightened level of tension and fear to their daily work routines, but also, at times, a rush of new customers eager to show support with their pocketbooks.
—Marisa Gerber, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023
Verb
Instead, Manchester United remained frantic and rushed in midfield and defence – leaving spaces all over the pitch for Galatasaray’s players to run into and past.
—Liam Canning, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
With the Soviets moving swiftly across Ukraine, the Nazis rushed to destroy all evidence of their crimes; the Soviet prisoners were among 321 captives whom the Nazis ordered to reopen the mass graves and cremate the corpses of Jewish victims just before the Wehrmacht’s withdrawal.
—Joshua Hammer, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Nov. 2023
This was the best team rushing performance by the Rams since their 2018 playoff win over Dallas.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2023
Baby King, who was rushed to a local hospital, died later that day, according to county prosecutors.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 28 Nov. 2023
Sacramento has rushed to the left in recent decades while Tallahassee has moved to the right.
—The Editorial Board, WSJ, 28 Nov. 2023
With the four-day truce due to expire Tuesday morning, aid groups rushed to increase deliveries to the enclave and Gazans braced for warplanes to return to the skies.
—Susannah George, Washington Post, 26 Nov. 2023
As for his legs, Diehl had rushed for 1,234 yards and 15 TDs.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Nov. 2023
Detroit is 7-2 and one of the NFC’s top teams and has an offense that ranks in the top four in both rushing and passing.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023
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
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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.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, from Old English rysc; akin to Middle High German rusch rush, Lithuanian regzti to knit
Verb
Middle English russhen, from Anglo-French reuser, ruser, russher to drive back, repulse, from Latin recusare to oppose — more at recusant
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above
Verb
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun (2)
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
1879, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of rush was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing rush
Dictionary Entries Near rush
Cite this Entry
“Rush.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rush. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on rush
Nglish: Translation of rush for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of rush for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rush
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