hurry-up

[ hur-ee-uhp, huhr- ]
/ ˈhɜr iˌʌp, ˈhʌr- /

adjective

characterized by speed or the need for speed; quick: a hurry-up meal; a hurry-up phone call.

Origin of hurry-up

First recorded in 1885–90; adj. use of verb phrase hurry up

Definition for hurry-up (2 of 2)

hurry
[ hur-ee, huhr-ee ]
/ ˈhɜr i, ˈhʌr i /

verb (used without object), hur·ried, hur·ry·ing.

to move, proceed, or act with haste (often followed by up): Hurry, or we'll be late. Hurry up, it's starting to rain.

verb (used with object), hur·ried, hur·ry·ing.

to drive, carry, or cause to move or perform with speed.
to hasten; urge forward (often followed by up).
to impel or perform with undue haste: to hurry someone into a decision.

noun, plural hur·ries.

a state of urgency or eagerness: to be in a hurry to meet a train.
hurried movement or action; haste.

Origin of hurry

1580–90; expressive word of uncertain origin, compare Middle English horyed (attested once) rushed, impelled, Middle High German hurren to move quickly

SYNONYMS FOR hurry

1 See rush1.
2 hasten.
3 accelerate, quicken; expedite, hustle.
6 celerity; expedition, dispatch; speed, quickness; bustle, ado.

OTHER WORDS FROM hurry

hur·ry·ing·ly, adverb o·ver·hur·ry, verb, o·ver·hur·ried, o·ver·hur·ry·ing. un·hur·ry·ing, adjective un·hur·ry·ing·ly, adverb

Example sentences from the Web for hurry-up

British Dictionary definitions for hurry-up

hurry
/ (ˈhʌrɪ) /

verb -ries, -rying or -ried

(intr often foll by up) to hasten (to do something); rush
(tr often foll by along) to speed up the completion, progress, etc, of

noun

haste
urgency or eagerness
in a hurry informal
  1. easilyyou won't beat him in a hurry
  2. willinglywe won't go there again in a hurry

Derived forms of hurry

hurrying, noun, adjective hurryingly, adverb

Word Origin for hurry

C16 horyen, probably of imitative origin; compare Middle High German hurren; see scurry