Hurry vs. Rush — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 31, 2024
Hurry implies swift action or movement often to meet a deadline, emphasizing speed, while rush indicates a more urgent, sometimes reckless haste, prioritizing immediacy over deliberation.
Difference Between Hurry and Rush
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Hurry is used when someone needs to move quickly or expedite an action, often due to time constraints or the desire to accomplish something within a specific timeframe. It suggests a sense of urgency but with an underlying intention to maintain order. Whereas rush conveys a sense of urgent haste that can lead to carelessness or disorder, often driven by extreme necessity or impatience.
When you hurry, you're speeding up your actions but still trying to maintain accuracy and care in what you're doing. It's about being fast yet controlled, aiming to meet a deadline without compromising the quality of work. On the other hand, when you rush, there's a heightened chance of mistakes or accidents due to the prioritization of speed over precision, often leading to a chaotic or pressured situation.
The decision to hurry might stem from a proactive approach to managing time effectively, acknowledging the need for speed while still retaining a focus on the task at hand. In contrast, the decision to rush is typically reactive, spurred by an immediate need or a last-minute realization, where the primary goal becomes completing the task as quickly as possible, regardless of the potential for error.
The language surrounding "hurry" often involves encouragement or a gentle push towards increasing speed or efficiency, seen in both personal and professional contexts. Rushing, however, is frequently associated with a lack of preparation or the sudden emergence of an urgent situation, invoking a sense of panic or frantic effort.
Engaging in a hurry can be a part of a well-thought-out strategy to manage time or responsibilities efficiently, indicating foresight and planning. Rushing, by its nature, suggests a departure from plan, often necessitated by unforeseen circumstances or mismanagement of time, leading to a scramble to meet demands or deadlines.
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Comparison Chart
Implication
Swift action with intent to maintain control.
Urgent haste that may lead to carelessness.
Underlying Cause
Time constraints or efficiency.
Extreme necessity or impatience.
Focus
Speed with an effort to preserve accuracy.
Speed, often at the expense of precision.
Approach
Proactive, with a plan to meet deadlines.
Reactive, often due to last-minute pressures.
Outcome
Effective time management, with minimized errors.
Increased potential for mistakes or accidents.
Compare with Definitions
Hurry
To move or act swiftly to accomplish something.
She hurried to finish her work before the deadline.
Rush
To act with haste, often hastily or carelessly.
He rushed the report and made several errors.
Hurry
Accelerating pace or action due to time constraints.
They hurried through their tasks to leave early.
Rush
An urgent drive, sometimes resulting in disorder.
In a rush to leave, he forgot his keys.
Hurry
Urgency without panic, maintaining order.
She hurried the children to school, ensuring they ate breakfast first.
Rush
Prioritizing immediacy, often at a cost.
They rushed the decision and regretted it later.
Hurry
Prompt action with a focus on efficiency.
He always hurries in the morning to catch the train.
Rush
Acting under pressure, leading to potential oversight.
The team was rushed and missed important details.
Hurry
A measured increase in speed to meet a goal.
The team hurried the project along to meet the launch date.
Rush
Moving or doing something with great urgency, potentially leading to mistakes.
She rushed through her presentation and skipped key points.
Hurry
Move or act with great haste
Servants hurried around
We'd better hurry
Rush
Move with urgent haste
Oliver rushed after her
I rushed outside and hailed a taxi
Hurry
Great haste
In my hurry to leave I knocked over a pile of books
Rush
Dash towards (someone or something) in an attempt to attack or capture
To rush the bank and fire willy-nilly could be disastrous for everyone
Hurry
To move or act with speed or haste.
Rush
Entertain (a new student) in order to assess suitability for membership of a college fraternity or sorority.
Hurry
To cause to move or act with speed or haste
Hurried the children to school.
Rush
Make (a customer) pay a particular amount, especially an excessive one
How much did they rush you for this heap?
They rushed you, all right! It's not worth a penny more than £120
Hurry
To cause to move or act with undue haste; rush
Was hurried into marriage.
Rush
A sudden quick movement towards something, typically by a number of people
There was a rush for the door
Hurry
To speed the progress or completion of; expedite
Hurried the delivery of the product.
Rush
An act of advancing forward, especially towards the quarterback.
Hurry
Activity or motion that is often unduly hurried; haste
I forgot my gloves in my hurry to catch the bus.
Rush
The first prints made of a film after a period of shooting
After the shoot the agency team will see the rushes
Hurry
The need or wish to hurry; a condition of urgency
In no hurry to leave.
Rush
An erect, tufted marsh or waterside plant resembling a sedge or grass, with inconspicuous greenish or brownish flowers. Widely distributed in temperate areas, some kinds are used for matting, chair seats, and baskets.
Hurry
Rushed action.
Why are you in such a big hurry?
Rush
A thing of no value (used for emphasis)
Not one of them is worth a rush
Hurry
Urgency.
There is no hurry on that paperwork.
Rush
To move swiftly; hurry
Rushed after the bus.
Hurry
(American football) an incidence of a defensive player forcing the quarterback to act faster than the quarterback was prepared to, resulting in a failed offensive play.
Rush
To act with great haste
Rushed to finish the project.
Hurry
(music) A tremolando passage for violins, etc., accompanying an exciting situation.
Rush
To make a sudden or swift attack or charge
The cavalry rushed down upon the encampment.
Hurry
(intransitive) To do things quickly.
He's hurrying because he's late.
Rush
To flow or surge rapidly, often with noise
Water rushed over the cliff.
Hurry
(intransitive) Often with up, to speed up the rate of doing something.
If you don't hurry (up) you won't finish on time.
Rush
(Football) To advance the ball or attempt to advance the ball from scrimmage by carrying it rather than passing.
Hurry
(transitive) To cause to be done quickly.
Rush
To cause to move rapidly
Had to rush fresh troops to the front lines.
Hurry
(transitive) To hasten; to impel to greater speed; to urge on.
Rush
To cause to act with haste
Made a mistake because we were rushed.
Hurry
(transitive) To impel to precipitate or thoughtless action; to urge to confused or irregular activity.
Rush
To perform with great haste
Had to rush the project to complete it on time.
Hurry
(mining) To put: to convey coal in the mine, e.g. from the working to the tramway.
Rush
To attack swiftly and suddenly
Infantry rushed the enemy after the artillery barrage.
Hurry
To hasten; to impel to greater speed; to urge on.
Impetuous lust hurries him on.
They hurried him abroad a bark.
Rush
To transport or carry hastily
An ambulance rushed her to the hospital.
Hurry
To impel to precipitate or thoughtless action; to urge to confused or irregular activity.
And wild amazement hurries up and downThe little number of your doubtful friends.
Rush
To entertain or pay great attention to
They rushed him for their fraternity.
Hurry
To cause to be done quickly.
Rush
(Football) To run toward (a passer or kicker) in order to block or disrupt a play.
Hurry
To move or act with haste; to proceed with celerity or precipitation; as, let us hurry.
Rush
A sudden movement toward something
A rush to leave the room.
Hurry
The act of hurrying in motion or business; pressure; urgency; bustle; confusion.
Ambition raises a tumult in the soul, it inflames the mind, and puts into a violent hurry of thought.
Rush
An anxious and eager movement to get to or from a place
A rush to the goldfields.
Hurry
A condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry;
In a hurry to lock the door
Rush
A sudden widespread demand
A rush for gold coins.
Hurry
Overly eager speed (and possible carelessness);
He soon regretted his haste
Rush
General haste or busyness
The office always operates in a rush.
Hurry
The act of moving hurriedly and in a careless manner;
In his haste to leave he forgot his book
Rush
A sudden attack; an onslaught.
Hurry
Move very fast;
The runner zipped past us at breakneck speed
Rush
A rapid, often noisy flow or passage
Listened to the rush of the wind.
Hurry
Act or move at high speed;
We have to rush!
Hurry--it's late!
Rush
A large or overwhelming number or amount
A rush of last-minute holiday orders.
Hurry
Urge to an unnatural speed;
Don't rush me, please!
Rush
An attempt to advance the ball from scrimmage by carrying it.
Rush
An act of running at a passer or kicker in order to block or prevent a play.
Rush
(Sports) A rapid advance of the puck toward the opponent's goal in ice hockey.
Rush
Rushes The first, unedited print of a movie scene.
Rush
A drive by a Greek society on a college campus to recruit new members
A sorority rush.
Rush
A surge or release of emotion
Felt a rush of fear.
Rush
A sudden, brief exhilaration
Felt a heady rush when her name was called out as the winner.
Rush
The intensely pleasurable sensation experienced immediately after use of a stimulant or a mind-altering drug.
Rush
Any of various grasslike wetland plants of the genus Juncus, having stiff hollow or pithy stems and small usually clustered brownish flowers.
Rush
Any of various similar plants, such as a bulrush.
Rush
The stem of one of these plants, used in making baskets, mats, and chair seats.
Rush
Performed with or requiring great haste or urgency
A rush job.
A rush order.
Rush
Any of several stiff plants of the genus Juncus, or the family Juncaceae, having hollow or pithy stems and small flowers, and often growing in marshes or near water.
Rush
The stem of such plants used in making baskets, mats, the seats of chairs, etc.
Rush
The merest trifle; a straw.
Rush
A wick.
Rush
A sudden forward motion.
Rush
A surge.
A rush of business can be difficult to handle effectively for its unexpected volume.
Rush
General haste.
Many errors were made in the rush to finish.
Rush
A rapid, noisy flow.
A rush of water;
A rush of footsteps
Rush
(military) A sudden attack; an onslaught.
Rush
(video games) The strategy of attacking an opponent with a large swarm of weak units, rather than spending time developing their abilities.
Rush
(contact sports) The act of running at another player to block or disrupt play.
A rush on the quarterback
Rush
A rusher; a lineman.
The center rush, whose place is in the center of the rush line
Rush
A sudden, brief exhilaration, for instance the pleasurable sensation produced by a stimulant.
The rollercoaster gave me a rush.
Rush
(college slang) A regulated period of recruitment in fraternities and sororities.
Rush week
Rush
(college slang) A person attempting to join a fraternity or sorority as part of a rush.
Rush
A perfect recitation.
Rush
(croquet) A roquet in which the object ball is sent to a particular location on the lawn.
Rush
To hurry; to perform a task with great haste.
Rush one's dinner;
Rush off an email response
Rush
(intransitive) To flow or move forward rapidly or noisily.
Armies rush to battle;
Waters rush down a precipice.
Rush
To dribble rapidly.
Rush
To run directly at another player in order to block or disrupt play.
Rush
(transitive) To cause to move or act with unusual haste.
Don't rush your client or he may withdraw.
Rush
To make a swift or sudden attack.
Rush
(military) To swiftly attack without warning.
Rush
To attack (an opponent) with a large swarm of units.
Rush
(transitive) To transport or carry quickly.
The shuttle rushes passengers from the station to the airport.
Rush
To roquet an object ball to a particular location on the lawn.
Rush
To attempt to join a fraternity or sorority, often involving a hazing or initiation process.
Rush
To recite (a lesson) or pass (an examination) without an error.
Rush
To play at a faster tempo than one is supposed to or than the other musicians one is playing with, or to inadvertently gradually increase tempo while one is playing.
Rush
Performed with, or requiring urgency or great haste, or done under pressure.
A rush job
Rush
A name given to many aquatic or marsh-growing endogenous plants with soft, slender stems, as the species of Juncus and Scirpus.
Rush
The merest trifle; a straw.
John Bull's friendship is not worth a rush.
Rush
A moving forward with rapidity and force or eagerness; a violent motion or course; as, a rush of troops; a rush of winds; a rush of water.
A gentleman of his train spurred up his horse, and, with a violent rush, severed him from the duke.
Rush
Great activity with pressure; as, a rush of business.
Rush
A perfect recitation.
Rush
A rusher; as, the center rush, whose place is in the center of the rush line; the end rush.
Rush
To move forward with impetuosity, violence, and tumultuous rapidity or haste; as, armies rush to battle; waters rush down a precipice.
Like to an entered tide, they all rush by.
Rush
To enter into something with undue haste and eagerness, or without due deliberation and preparation; as, to rush business or speculation.
They . . . never think it to be a part of religion to rush into the office of princes and ministers.
Rush
To push or urge forward with impetuosity or violence; to hurry forward.
Rush
To recite (a lesson) or pass (an examination) without an error.
Rush
The act of moving hurriedly and in a careless manner;
In his haste to leave he forgot his book
Rush
A sudden forceful flow
Rush
Grasslike plants growing in wet places and having cylindrical often hollow stems
Rush
Physician and Revolutionary American leader; signer of the Declaration of Independence (1745-1813)
Rush
The swift release of a store of affective force;
They got a great bang out of it
What a boot!
He got a quick rush from injecting heroin
He does it for kicks
Rush
A sudden burst of activity;
Come back after the rush
Rush
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line;
The linebackers were ready to stop a rush
Rush
Step on it;
He rushed down the hall to receive his guests
The cars raced down the street
Rush
Attack suddenly
Rush
Urge to an unnatural speed;
Don't rush me, please!
Rush
Act or move at high speed;
We have to rush!
Hurry--it's late!
Rush
Run with the ball, in football
Rush
Cause to move fast or to rush or race;
The psychologist raced the rats through a long maze
Rush
Cause to occur rapidly;
The infection precipitated a high fever and allergic reactions
Rush
Not accepting reservations
Rush
Done under pressure;
A rush job
Common Curiosities
What is the main difference between hurry and rush?
Hurry involves swift action with a degree of control, while rush implies more urgent, often reckless, haste.
What motivates someone to hurry?
Motivation to hurry typically comes from time constraints or the desire to achieve efficiency without sacrificing quality.
Why do people rush?
People rush due to immediate needs, last-minute realizations, or under pressure, often leading to a chaotic approach.
Is it better to hurry or rush?
Hurrying is generally preferable as it suggests speed with an attempt to maintain accuracy, whereas rushing can lead to mistakes.
Can hurrying lead to errors?
While hurrying aims to balance speed with accuracy, it can still lead to errors if not managed properly.
Can hurrying be a habit?
Yes, some individuals develop a habit of hurrying, often as a response to chronic time constraints or personal disposition.
Can technology reduce the need to hurry or rush?
Technology can streamline processes and improve efficiency, potentially reducing the need for hurrying or rushing.
What are the physical effects of hurrying or rushing?
Both can increase stress levels and physical exertion, but rushing is more likely to lead to heightened anxiety.
Can "hurry" and "rush" be used interchangeably?
While they can be used in similar contexts, "rush" often conveys a sense of greater urgency and potential carelessness.
Is rushing ever a good strategy?
In emergencies or when facing tight deadlines, rushing might be necessary, but it's generally not seen as an ideal approach.
How does rushing affect work quality?
Rushing often compromises work quality due to prioritizing speed over precision, increasing the likelihood of mistakes.
How can one avoid the need to rush?
Effective time management, planning, and early action can help avoid the need to rush.
How do individuals respond differently to being told to hurry vs. rush?
Being told to hurry may be seen as a reminder to be quick yet careful, while being told to rush might invoke a sense of panic or urgency.
How do different professions view hurrying and rushing?
Professions with tight deadlines may normalize hurrying, while those emphasizing precision might view rushing as detrimental.
Does culture impact perceptions of hurrying and rushing?
Cultural attitudes towards time and efficiency can influence how hurrying and rushing are perceived and practiced.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
