Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

scurry

verb
Save Word
scur·​ry | \ ˈskər-ē How to pronounce scurry (audio) , ˈskə-rē \
scurried; scurrying

Definition of scurry

intransitive verb

1 : to move in or as if in a brisk pace : scamper
2 : to move around in an agitated, confused, or fluttering manner
Other Words from scurry Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about scurry

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from scurry

scurry noun

Examples of scurry in a Sentence

She scurried off to finish the job. Mice scurried around the house.
Recent Examples on the Web Jordan proceeded with his tale about how various officials, including Vice-President Pence and the then national-security-adviser John Bolton, scurried off to size up Zelensky, then returned to the White House with good news. — Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, "Jim Jordan Tries to Recast Trump as the Hero of the Ukraine Scandal," 14 Nov. 2019 The deputies back away, allowing the cub to climb the ladder and scurry off to rejoin its family. — Washington Post, "California deputies rescue wailing bear trapped in dumpster," 31 Aug. 2019 Employees shut down the conveyor belt and the critter scurried off, according to an update by Chavat. — Doreen Christensen, sun-sentinel.com, "Iguana gets a workout at Key West Airport in viral video," 26 Aug. 2019 Romelia Guadalupe, 22, scurried off to give her daughter a scrub in a nearby sink. — Julie Turkewitz, New York Times, "Sleeping on America’s Doorstep: A Dispatch From the Border," 25 June 2018 One suspects that, in many cases, commissioning work plays a palliative role: a company can applaud itself for having acknowledged contemporary reality and then scurry back to the safe space of the past. — Alex Ross, The New Yorker, "Opera Against the Patriarchy," 30 Dec. 2019 In the scene, two wild pigs and four anoas, or dwarf buffaloes, scurry about as their apparent pursuers—mythical, humanoid figures sporting animal features like snouts, beaks and tails—give chase, armed with rope- and spear-like weapons. — Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian, "Newly Discovered Indonesian Cave Art May Represent World’s Oldest Known Hunting Scene," 12 Dec. 2019 There were consequences to a combination of dozens of scurrying free-for-the-taking turkeys outnumbered by hundreds of turkey-tackling townspeople. — Bulletin Board, Twin Cities, "Sunday Bulletin Board: When must a business be not just a business?," 1 Dec. 2019 Garrity did the rest, scurrying up the sideline and diving into the end zone for 37-yard touchdown. — Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star, "Spencer Wright shines as Western Boone makes it back-to-back Class 2A titles in a rout," 30 Nov. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'scurry.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of scurry

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for scurry

short for hurry-scurry, reduplication of hurry

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about scurry

Time Traveler for scurry

Time Traveler

The first known use of scurry was in 1810

See more words from the same year

Statistics for scurry

Last Updated

19 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Scurry.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scurry. Accessed 20 January 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for scurry

scurry

verb
How to pronounce scurry (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of scurry

: to move quickly and with short steps

See the full definition for scurry in the English Language Learners Dictionary

scurry

verb
scur·​ry | \ ˈskər-ē How to pronounce scurry (audio) \
scurried; scurrying

Kids Definition of scurry

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: to move quickly … the stories were the kind that made people scurry past his house even in broad daylight …— Eleanor Estes, The Hundred Dresses

scurry

noun
plural scurries

Kids Definition of scurry (Entry 2 of 2)

: the act of moving quickly One wild scurry and Willie burst out into the sunlight.— Robert Lawson, Rabbit Hill

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on scurry

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for scurry

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with scurry

Spanish Central: Translation of scurry

Nglish: Translation of scurry for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of scurry for Arabic Speakers

Comments on scurry

What made you want to look up scurry? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

dauntless

Listen to the pronounciation of dauntless

not to be intimidated or subdued

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

The Eponym Quiz

  • rubens painting
  • Which is the best synonym of bowdlerize?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Citation

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games