Synonyms of hurry

hurry 1 of 2

noun

1

as in hustle

excited and often showy or disorderly speed

after all her hurry to get her report done on time, Elizabeth learned that it wasn't due till the following week

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hustle
• rush
• haste
• scramble
• precipitation
• hastiness
• scurry
• speed
• precipitousness
• scuttle
• bustle
• stir
• dash
• beeline
• stampede
• flutter
• quickness
• expedition
• velocity
• rapidity
• flurry
• impulsiveness
• swiftness
• impulsivity
• whirl
• promptness
• dispatch
• rashness
• impetuosity
• celerity
• promptitude
• impetuousness
• speediness
• hotheadedness
• fastness
• fleetness
• rapidness
• expeditiousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• deliberation
• slowness
• deliberateness
• procrastination
• lateness
• lethargy
• inertia
• sluggishness
• inaction
• dilatoriness
• languor
• torpor
• pokiness
• inactivity
• inertness
• dormancy
• quiescence
• leisureliness

2

as in speed

a high rate of movement or performance

a person who does everything in a hurry

Synonyms & Similar Words

• speed
• velocity
• rate
• haste
• quickness
• pace
• rapidity
• swiftness
• celerity
• acceleration
• speediness
• fastness
• rush
• fleetness
• rapidness
• tempo
• clip
• gait
• hustle
• drive
• expedition
• dispatch
• precipitation
• hastiness
• alacrity
• promptness
• promptitude
• precipitousness
• warp speed
• expeditiousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slowness
• reluctance
• sluggishness
• lethargy
• languor
• torpor
• deliberation
• torpidity
• deliberateness
• leisureliness
• languidness
• procrastination
• lateness
• dilatoriness
• pokiness

3

as in commotion

a state of noisy, confused activity

in all the hurry of the modern world, people tend to forget what's really important

Synonyms & Similar Words

• commotion
• stir
• disturbance
• fuss
• turmoil
• fun
• storm
• bother
• clatter
• to-do
• noise
• racket
• row
• hurricane
• clutter
• bustle
• zoo
• hurry-scurry
• ado
• coil
• roar
• whirl
• do
• ruckus
• hubbub
• hoopla
• splore
• pandemonium
• helter-skelter
• pother
• squall
• tumult
• flurry
• hullabaloo
• stew
• rumpus
• hurly-burly
• furore
• shindy
• blather
• uproar
• furor
• kerfuffle
• ballyhoo
• moil
• bobbery
• ruction
• foofaraw
• bluster
• alarums and excursions
• welter
• upheaval
• hurly
• hoo-ha
• clamor
• howl
• din
• williwaw
• outcry
• hubble-bubble
• unrest
• disorder
• hue and cry
• flutter
• cacophony
• eruption
• fray
• brawl
• outburst
• outbreak
• fret
• scuffle
• fever
• hassle
• melee
• tizzy
• dither
• fracas
• lather
• flare-up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rest
• peace
• calm
• quiet
• hush
• stillness
• order
• tranquility
• quietude
• orderliness

hurry

2 of 2

verb

ˈhər-ē 

1

as in to rush

to cause to move or proceed fast or faster

the new nurses were hurried through the orientation program because they were so desperately needed on the ward

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rush
• accelerate
• push
• urge
• hasten
• encourage
• speed (up)
• quicken
• whisk
• fast-track
• bundle
• drive
• race
• facilitate
• spur
• stir
• expedite
• propel
• aid
• prod
• dispatch
• goad
• ease

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• slow (down)
• brake
• retard
• delay
• decelerate
• restrain
• interfere (with)
• hinder
• impede
• stop
• hamper
• stay
• check
• tie up
• hold back
• hobble
• encumber
• hold up
• rein (in)
• arrest
• stall
• still
• fetter
• shackle
• trammel
• manacle

2

as in to scurry

to proceed or move quickly

if we hurry, we'll make the four o'clock train

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rush
• scurry
• speed
• race
• travel
• fly
• drive
• trot
• jump
• chase
• zip
• run
• scoot
• buzz
• blow
• step
• scuttle
• dash
• blast
• dart
• hasten
• rip
• tear
• shoot
• whirl
• jog
• hustle
• zoom
• breeze
• course
• bowl
• ram
• bolt
• career
• crack (on)
• rustle
• motor
• hare
• hurl
• blaze
• jet
• hurtle
• bundle
• rocket
• nip
• hie
• whisk
• hump
• bustle
• beat it
• gallop
• belt
• step on it
• barrel
• get a move on
• careen
• pelt
• highball
• make tracks
• bomb
• hotfoot (it)
• shake a leg
• flit
• scamper
• cannonball
• accelerate
• sprint
• streak
• stampede
• whiz
• quicken
• overtake
• outrun
• step out
• beetle
• scuffle
• catch up
• scud
• outstrip
• outpace
• fast-forward
• arrow
• beeline

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• creep
• crawl
• drag
• linger
• poke
• hang (around or out)
• dawdle
• lag
• loiter
• tarry
• poke
• stroll
• shuffle
• amble
• saunter
• slow (down or up)
• plod
• dillydally
• lumber
• decelerate
• dally

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun hurry contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of hurry are dispatch, expedition, haste, and speed. While all these words mean "quickness in movement or action," hurry often has a strong suggestion of agitated bustle or confusion.

in the hurry of departure she forgot her toothbrush

How do expedition and dispatch relate to one another, in the sense of hurry?

Expedition and dispatch both imply speed and efficiency in handling affairs but expedition stresses ease or efficiency of performance and dispatch stresses promptness in concluding matters.

the case came to trial with expedition

paid bills with dispatch

When can haste be used instead of hurry?

The words haste and hurry can be used in similar contexts, but haste applies to personal action and implies urgency and precipitancy and often rashness.

marry in haste

Where would speed be a reasonable alternative to hurry?

Although the words speed and hurry have much in common, speed suggests swift efficiency in movement or action.

exercises to increase your reading speed

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hurry

Noun

Ben Sasse has lived life in a hurry. —Scott Pelley, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2026

While offensive players were flying off the board early, defensive players started to come off in a hurry such as LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and Ohio State linebacker Arvell Reese. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 2026

Verb

The gunfire exchange could be heard within the dinner’s ballroom, and the president, vice president and other members of the Cabinet were hurried away to safety. —Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026

But hurry — the deals expire April 27. —Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026

Phrases Containing hurry

• in a hurry