What does unhurriedly mean?
Unhurriedly is an adverb meaning at a calm, deliberate pace rather than with urgency or agitation. A speaker may speak unhurriedly, a traveler may proceed unhurriedly, or a person may eat unhurriedly, and in each case the adverb suggests controlled ease. The word is most useful when it conveys more than simple slowness: unhurriedly can imply patience, attentiveness, and confidence, though context determines whether that calmness is admirable, restful, or even reluctant. It is widely used in both British and American English and carries a generally neutral to mildly formal tone, fitting literary, professional, and reflective contexts especially well. Related forms include the adjective unhurried and the less common noun unhurriedness. Though unobtrusive, unhurriedly is useful in emphasizing the manner of an action: it contrasts with rushing and presents time as something to use deliberately rather than something that pressures the actor.
adverbAt a slow, relaxed, and deliberate pace; without haste.
- At a slow, relaxed, and deliberate pace; without haste.
"She spoke unhurriedly, allowing everyone time to absorb the news."
"The hikers continued unhurriedly along the shaded path."
"He replied unhurriedly, choosing his words with care."
Adding “un-” to hurried does more than deny speed—it evokes the deliberate calm of having time to spare.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unhurriedly come from?
Unhurriedly was formed in English by adding the adverbial suffix -ly to the adjective unhurried. The adjective combines the negative prefix un- with hurried, giving it the meaning “not hurried,” and the adverbial form carries that sense into adverbial use. The related forms hurry, hurried, hurrying, and hurriedly belong to the same word family, whose base noun and verb became established during the early modern period.
Related word forms
How unhurriedly is actually used
The adverb is neutral to mildly formal and can suggest patience, attentiveness, or self-control rather than mere slowness. It is used in both British and American English.
Easily confused with unhurriedly
Unhurriedly describes an action performed without haste, whereas hurriedly describes one performed with urgency.