Hurried Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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hurried

[ˈhʌr.ɪd ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

quickly

To move or act with haste; to rush

Synonyms

dash, hasten, hurry up, rush, speed.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
hurried

Used to describe someone who is moving quickly because they are running out of time or are in a hurry.

  • She left the house in a hurried manner
  • The hurried preparation for the event caused many mistakes
rush

Indicates moving with great speed, often with a sense of urgency or stress.

  • I had to rush to the meeting because I woke up late
  • There was a rush to evacuate the building during the fire drill
hasten

More formal and often refers to making something happen sooner or accelerating a process.

  • The government needs to hasten their response to the crisis
  • She hastened to clarify her point of view
speed

General term for moving quickly, can refer to physical speed or the acceleration of a process.

  • He needs to speed up his work to meet the deadline
  • The car can speed up very quickly on the highway
dash

Suggests a sudden, quick movement, often for a short distance. It can imply urgency in an informal way.

  • He had to dash to catch the bus
  • She made a dash for the exit when the alarm sounded
hurry up

Commonly used when telling someone to move or do something faster.

  • Hurry up, we’re going to be late! The teacher told the students to hurry up and finish their tests

Examples of usage

  • She hurried to catch the train before it departed.
  • He hurried through the crowd to reach his destination.
Context #2 | Adjective

busy

Busy, rushed, or done quickly

Synonyms

fast, hasty, hurriedly, quick, rushed.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
hurried

Used when someone is moving or acting with a sense of urgency, often due to time constraints. It can imply that something might not be done with full care because of the speed.

  • He hurried to finish his assignment before the deadline.
  • She left the house in a hurried manner.
rushed

Emphasizes that something is done in a hurried manner, often with the implication that it was not done well, or was done under pressure. It usually has a negative connotation.

  • The rushed project was full of errors.
  • I felt rushed during the interview.
quick

Similar to 'fast', but often used to describe actions that take a short time to complete. It can be more about efficiency than speed.

  • He has a quick mind.
  • She gave a quick answer.
  • The meeting was quick.
hasty

Implies that something is done quickly but often without sufficient thought or care, potentially leading to mistakes. It has a somewhat negative connotation.

  • His hasty decision led to problems later.
  • She regretted her hasty words.
hurriedly

Describes the manner in which an action is performed, emphasizing the quick and rushed nature of the action.

  • She hurriedly packed her bags.
  • He wrote the note hurriedly.
fast

Can refer to speed in general. It's versatile and can be used for anything that moves quickly, whether it's a person, object, or action.

  • He runs very fast.
  • The car is really fast.
  • She finished her work fast.

Examples of usage

  • We made a hurried decision without thinking it through.
  • The hurried pace of life in the city can be overwhelming.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • Being hurried often leads to increased stress levels due to a lack of time to complete tasks.
  • Research suggests that when people rush, they may make more mistakes and forget important details.

Cultural Perspectives

  • In some cultures, being hurried is a sign of ambition and productivity, while in others, it can be seen as a lack of patience.
  • In Japan, the concept of 'karoshi' (death from overwork) highlights the dangers of being constantly hurried in a work-centric culture.

Literature

  • Authors often use the theme of hurried lives to illustrate characters' struggles with time management and personal fulfillment.
  • Classic works, like 'The Great Gatsby,' showcase hurried decisions that lead to unexpected consequences in characters’ lives.

Technology

  • In the digital age, the rapid pace of information flow often creates a sense of being hurried, as people feel pressured to respond immediately.
  • Many apps are designed to help people plan their time efficiently, reflecting society's need to combat the hurried lifestyle.

Origin of 'hurried'

Main points about word origin

  • The word has roots in the late Middle English 'hurried,' which means to move quickly or to be in a hurry.
  • It derives from 'hurry,' which possibly traces back to the old French term 'hurrier,' meaning to scurry about.

The word 'hurried' originated from the Middle English word 'hurien' which meant to push or shove. Over time, the meaning evolved to signify moving quickly or acting with haste. The usage of 'hurried' in English dates back to the 16th century.


See also: hurriedly, hurry, hurrying, unhurried.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,210 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.