Rush means to move or act with urgent speed, often because time is running out. When you rush to finish your homework before dinner, you're working quickly because the deadline is approaching. When someone rushes out the door to catch the school bus, they're moving fast to avoid being late.

The word captures that feeling of hurried energy when there's pressure to get something done. You might rush through breakfast on a busy morning, or feel rushed when trying to complete a test before the bell rings. Sometimes rushing leads to mistakes: when you rush through math problems, you might miss important details or make careless errors.

Rush can also describe a sudden surge or flow. Water rushes through rapids, moving fast and forcefully. During the California Gold Rush of 1849, thousands of people rushed to California hoping to find gold and get rich quickly. Football players rush the quarterback, charging toward him as fast as they can.

As a noun, rush can also mean the exciting feeling you get from doing something thrilling. You might feel a rush of excitement before performing in the school play, or experience an adrenaline rush when riding a roller coaster. That's the sensation of energy and alertness flooding through your body all at once.