Cool MateBetter hurry vs Hurry up vs Quickly
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Better hurry
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Hurry up
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Quickly
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adverb
Most formal: QuicklyMost common: Quickly
| Better hurry | Hurry up | Quickly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈbɛtə ˈhʌri//🇺🇸 //ˈbɛtər ˈhɜri// | 🇬🇧 //ˈhʌri ʌp//🇺🇸 //ˈhɜri ʌp// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkwɪkli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkwɪkli/"]/ |
| Meaning | Go faster. | Do something faster. | In a fast manner |
| Example | We better hurry if we want to catch the bus! | You need to hurry up or we will miss the train! | She ran quickly to catch the bus. |
| Register | Informal | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | adverb | ||
| Collocations | better hurry up, better hurry along, better hurry back | hurry up and wait, hurry up before, hurry up to | move quickly, react quickly, think quickly |
| Antonyms | - | - | slowly |
| Common mistakes | Misused in formal situations where 'please be quick' is more appropriate., Often omitted the subject, saying just 'hurry' instead. | Omitting 'up', saying just 'hurry'., 'Hurry up' used in formal writing., Using 'hurry up' without an object or activity. | Using 'quick' instead of 'quickly' when modifying a verb., Placing 'quickly' too far from the verb it modifies., Confusing 'quickly' with 'fastly' since 'fast' is the correct adverb. |
| Usage notes | Use 'better hurry' when suggesting someone should move quickly; often used informally among friends. Avoid in formal contexts. | Commonly used in casual contexts to prompt someone to act more quickly. Avoid in formal situations. | Use 'quickly' when describing how something is done fast. Appropriate in both spoken and written English, but may be overly formal in casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Better hurry vs Hurry up vs Quickly
What's the difference between Better hurry, Hurry up, and Quickly?
Better hurry: Go faster. Hurry up: Do something faster. Quickly: In a fast manner
Which is more formal: Better hurry, Hurry up, and Quickly?
Quickly is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Better hurry, Hurry up, and Quickly?
Quickly is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Better hurry: We better hurry if we want to catch the bus! Hurry up: You need to hurry up or we will miss the train! Quickly: She ran quickly to catch the bus.
Can I use Better hurry, Hurry up, and Quickly interchangeably?
Not always. Better hurry, Hurry up, and Quickly are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.