To hurry means to move or act quickly, usually because time is running short. When you hurry to catch the school bus before it pulls away, you're moving faster than your normal pace. When your mom says “Hurry up, we're going to be late,” she's asking you to speed things along.

Hurry suggests a sense of urgency or pressure that makes rushing feel necessary. You might hurry through breakfast on a busy morning, or hurry to finish homework before dinner. Sometimes people hurry when they don't really need to, feeling anxious even when there's plenty of time.

The word can also be a noun: when you're in a hurry, you need to get somewhere or do something quickly. If there's “no hurry,” it means you can take your time.

Interestingly, hurrying can backfire. When you hurry through math problems, you might make careless mistakes. When you hurry while carrying a full glass of water, you're more likely to spill it. Sometimes focusing carefully works better than rushing.