What does scurried mean?
Scurried means to move with haste, usually in a quick, light, or somewhat hurried way. As the past tense and past participle of scurry, it commonly describes people or animals running, rushing, or darting away: children scurried through the grass, and a rabbit scurried beneath the fence. It can also function as an adjective before a noun, as in a “scurried glance,” describing an action marked by haste or urgency. The word often carries a vivid, slightly literary tone and can suggest nervousness, alarm, or frantic activity rather than calm, deliberate movement. Although it occurs in both British and American English, it is less common than everyday alternatives such as hurried, rushed, or darted. Its expressive sound and precise portrayal of sudden movement make it especially effective in narrative writing and descriptive prose.
To move or run with haste; to hurry or move quickly.
"The children scurried through the tall grass when they heard the approaching storm."
The past tense and past participle of scurry. It is often used with away, off, back, into, or through.
Characterized by haste or hurried movement.
"He cast a scurried glance toward the door."
Usually occurs before a noun and has a literary or narrative flavor.
Scurried turns a burst of motion into a vivid snapshot: one moment of stillness, then a flurry of feet.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does scurried come from?
Scurried is the past tense and past participle of the English verb scurry, meaning to move with haste. The precise origin of scurry is uncertain, so it is best not confidently assigned to a particular foreign language or ancient root. The related noun scurry, meaning a sudden flurry of rain or snow, belongs to the same word family, although the noun and verb are not interchangeable in every context.
Related word forms
How scurried is actually used
The verb has a slightly literary or old-fashioned flavor, but it remains natural in both British and American English. It often describes quick, light movement and may suggest alarm, excitement, or urgency.