Hurriedly - English Definition & Meaning

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Definition

To act "hurriedly" means doing something with great speed and haste, often due to a sense of urgency or lack of time. It implies a rushed manner, potentially leading to mistakes or oversights. Picture someone scrambling to finish an assignment right before the deadline or rushing to catch a bus. Acting hurriedly often means sacrificing thoroughness for speed. It suggests a lack of composure or careful planning, unlike taking one's time. "Hurriedly" indicates promptness, which contrasts it from something being done lazily or slowly. It might be helpful to be hurriedly sometimes, but being hasty is not usually ideal.

Etymology

The word "hurriedly" comes from the verb "hurry," which has uncertain origins but is believed to be related to the Old French word "hurrer," meaning "to bristle" or "to ruffle." The suffix "-ly" turns it into an adverb, describing how something is done. "Hurry" evolved to signify moving or acting quickly. "Hurriedly" retains that sense of speed and urgency. Now we use the word to mean to rush or move quickly.

Related Words

Examples

  • "She hurriedly packed her bags to catch the early train."
  • "He hurriedly scribbled down notes during the lecture."
  • "The students hurriedly finished their exam as the bell rang."
  • "She hurriedly apologized for bumping into someone in the hallway."

Anecdote / Story

Imagine when Harry Potter and his friends hurriedly searched for the Horcruxes in the final Harry Potter movies. It's like when the characters in Stranger Things hurriedly tried to close the gate to the Upside Down. Acting hurriedly often happens during high-stakes situations. It's similar to when Katniss Everdeen hurriedly made decisions to survive in the Hunger Games.

Encouragement

Use "hurriedly" to describe actions done quickly due to urgency or time constraints. It adds a sense of pace and energy to your writing. Try to balance using it with showing the consequences of rushing. 👍

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