Cool MateHurry follow me vs Race vs Rush vs Speed
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hurry follow me
Top 2,000 (common)
Race
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Rush
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Speed
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
| Hurry follow me | Race | Rush | Speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈhʌri ˈfɒləʊ miː//🇺🇸 //ˈhɜri ˈfɑloʊ mi// | 🇬🇧 /["/reɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/reɪs/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rʌʃ/","/ˈrʌʃɪz/","/rʌʃt/","/ˈrʌʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rʌʃ/","/ˈrʌʃɪz/","/rʌʃt/","/ˈrʌʃɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/spiːd/"]/🇺🇸 /["/spiːd/"]/ |
| Meaning | Go quickly with me. | A competition to see who is the fastest. | to move quickly or hurry | How fast something moves. |
| Example | When the ice cream truck arrived, I shouted, 'Hurry, follow me!' | The race was thrilling, with teams competing at full speed. | I had to rush to the station to catch my train before it left. | The speed of the car was incredible as it raced down the highway. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 | B2 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb | noun | |
| Collocations | hurry up, follow closely, hurry through, follow directions, hurry and wait | big, close, tight, have, hold, organize, be held, be run, take place, meet, meeting, winner, in a/the race, out of a/the race, race against, close, tight, two-horse, be in, be involved in, join, in a/the race, race between, race for, human, alien, mixed, relations, equality, discrimination, among races, between races, from a race, on the basis of race, on (the) grounds of race, human, alien, mixed, relations, equality, discrimination, among races, between races, from a race, on the basis of race, on (the) grounds of race | headlong, madly, quickly, along, from, into, come rushing, go rushing, rush to somebody’s rescue, headlong, madly, quickly, along, from, into, come rushing, go rushing, rush to somebody’s rescue | amazing, astonishing, breakneck, burst, rate, attain, reach, build up, increase, decrease, control, reduction, restriction, at speed, in speed, with speed, at full speed, full speed, full speed ahead, amazing, astonishing, breakneck, burst, rate, attain, reach, build up, increase, decrease, control, reduction, restriction, at speed, in speed, with speed, at full speed, full speed, full speed ahead, amazing, astonishing, breakneck, burst, rate, attain, reach, build up, increase, decrease, control, reduction, restriction, at speed, in speed, with speed, at full speed, full speed, full speed ahead |
| Antonyms | - | walk, crawl | slow, dawdle, linger | slowness, laziness |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'hurry up' - 'hurry follow me' is a command, not an invitation., Using 'hurry' as a noun instead of a verb., Incorrect verb forms, e.g. saying 'hurries' instead of 'hurry' in imperative. | Confusing 'race' with 'race against' (use 'race against time' when emphasizing urgency), Using the plural 'races' without context, as it may imply multiple types of competitions, Mixing 'race' with 'racing', which refers specifically to the action rather than the event | Incorrectly using 'rush' as a noun without an article when needed., Using 'rushed' as a present tense instead of the correct form., Confusing 'rush' with 'push' in the context of moving quickly. | Confusing 'speed' with 'pace' when referring to a specific time or distance., Incorrectly using 'speed' as a verb in sentences., Saying 'the speed' when discussing averages — should specify the context (e.g., 'average speed'). |
| Usage notes | Used when urging someone to move quickly. It's informal but appropriate in most everyday situations. | Use 'race' when talking about competitions involving speed, such as running, driving, or sport. It is informal when talking about a fun, casual event but can be formal in official contexts like sports competitions. | Commonly used when talking about a need to hurry, like catching a bus. Avoid in very formal situations. | Use 'speed' in everyday conversations about how quickly something happens. It is appropriate in most contexts, but avoid using it in highly technical discussions unless specifying the type of speed. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hurry follow me vs Race vs Rush vs Speed
What's the difference between Hurry follow me, Race, Rush, and Speed?
Hurry follow me: Go quickly with me. Race: A competition to see who is the fastest. Rush: to move quickly or hurry Speed: How fast something moves.
Which is more advanced: Hurry follow me, Race, Rush, and Speed?
Rush is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Hurry follow me: When the ice cream truck arrived, I shouted, 'Hurry, follow me!' Race: The race was thrilling, with teams competing at full speed. Rush: I had to rush to the station to catch my train before it left. Speed: The speed of the car was incredible as it raced down the highway.
Can I use Hurry follow me, Race, Rush, and Speed interchangeably?
Not always. Hurry follow me, Race, Rush, and Speed 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.