What does hurrying mean?
“Hurrying” means moving or doing something with unusual speed, usually because there is little time available or because someone is trying to meet a deadline. It is the present participle of the verb “hurry,” so it can describe an action in progress, as in “She was hurrying to the station,” or function like an adjective before a noun, as in “hurrying footsteps.” The word often carries a mild sense of pressure: hurried people may be late, anxious, or trying to cope with too many demands. However, it can also simply describe purposeful quickness without implying distress. “Hurrying” is widely used in both British and American English, while “hurrying” and “rushing” are common alternatives. In more formal writing, phrases such as “moving quickly” or “making haste” may sound less hurried themselves. The form is especially natural in narration, journalism, and descriptions of crowded or time-sensitive situations.
To move or do something with great speed, especially because of urgency.
"The children were hurrying through the rain."
The form “hurrying” is the present participle and gerund of “hurry.”
Describing movement, people, or sounds characterized by speed or urgency.
"A hurrying crowd gathered outside the station."
This use is participial and normally appears before a noun.
The word “hurrying” captures the uneasy speed of people who believe they are already late.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hurrying come from?
The word “hurrying” derives from “hurry,” a verb whose origins are associated with Middle English. The base verb developed in contexts meaning to move with haste or to cause someone to move quickly, and the present participle “hurrying” follows the regular English pattern of adding “-ing” to the verb. Related forms include the third-person singular “hurries” and the past tense and participle “hurried.”
Related word forms
How hurrying is actually used
“Hurrying” is a present-participle form of “hurry” and is common in ordinary speech. It can suggest purposeful speed, but it may also convey an atmosphere of pressure or anxiety.