I. ˈhər.]ē, ˈhə.r], ]i\ verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: perhaps from Middle English horyen; probably of imitative origin like Middle High German hurren to move quickly
transitive verb
1.
a. : to carry or cause to go fast : speed
an ambulance hurried him to the hospital
the quest to discover whither modern science is hurrying us — Howard M. Jones
fishing for either species don't hurry your lure — L.S.Marceau
b. archaic : to impel to rash or precipitate action
that hard-to-be-governed passion of youth hurried me frequently into intrigues with low women — Benjamin Franklin
2. dialect England : to cause distress to : harass
I've been very much hurried this morning; for I've just learned of the death of my old friend — A.B.Evans
3.
a. : to impel to greater speed : quicken , prod
heard the train coming and hurried his pace
used his spurs to hurry the horse
hates to be hurried at mealtime
b. : to speed up the progress or completion of : expedite
hurry dinner by doing the meat in the pressure cooker
electronic machines hurry the sorting of data
cultural exchange can hurry the development of world understanding
specifically : to perform with undue haste
some of the most perfect passages are hurried over as if they were a mistake on the composer's part — Warwick Braithwaite
intransitive verb
: to move or act with haste : go fast : rush
we'll have to hurry if we want to see the curtain go up
sheep … stared at her through the hurrying snowflakes — Ellen Glasgow
— often used with an adverb to lend emphasis or indicate direction
hurry up or you'll miss the train
small launches hurrying back and forth — Tom Marvel
a stiff northwest wind was blowing and patches of clouds hurried by — H.H.Arnold & I.C.Eaker
the nation hurried forward along the path of … consolidation — V.L.Parrington
Synonyms: see speed
II. noun
( -es )
1.
a. : disturbance , tumult , commotion
the incessant hurry and trivial activity of daily life … seem to prevent, or at least discourage, quiet and intense thinking — C.W.Eliot
b. dialect Britain : dispute , ruction
2.
a. obsolete : disturbance of mind : mental turmoil
there is nothing like hurrying the body, to divert the hurry of the mind — Francis Fuller
b. now dialect : a minor illness
3. : a recurrent agitation of sound
the hurry of water or languor of sand — Michael Sayers
4.
a. : excessive haste : precipitance
the blind hurry of the universe — Bertrand Russell
b. : a state of eagerness or urgency : rush
it was going to be a wonderful party and she was in a hurry to get there
they were all good reporters; but they were all in too big a hurry , for fear somebody else would beat them to it — Elmer Davis
5. : a tremolo in the strings or a roll on the drum accompanying an exciting situation in dramatic music
Synonyms: see haste
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- in a hurry