Cool MateHurry up vs Rush
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hurry up
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Rush
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Most formal: RushMost common: Rush
| Hurry up | Rush | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈhʌri ʌp//🇺🇸 //ˈhɜri ʌp// | 🇬🇧 /["/rʌʃ/","/ˈrʌʃɪz/","/rʌʃt/","/ˈrʌʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rʌʃ/","/ˈrʌʃɪz/","/rʌʃt/","/ˈrʌʃɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | Do something faster. | to move quickly or hurry |
| Example | You need to hurry up or we will miss the train! | I had to rush to the station to catch my train before it left. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | hurry up and wait, hurry up before, hurry up to | 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 |
| Antonyms | - | slow, dawdle, linger |
| Common mistakes | Omitting 'up', saying just 'hurry'., 'Hurry up' used in formal writing., Using 'hurry up' without an object or activity. | 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. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in casual contexts to prompt someone to act more quickly. Avoid in formal situations. | Commonly used when talking about a need to hurry, like catching a bus. Avoid in very formal situations. |
Frequently asked questions: Hurry up vs Rush
What's the difference between Hurry up and Rush?
Hurry up: Do something faster. Rush: to move quickly or hurry
Which is more formal: Hurry up and Rush?
Rush is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Hurry up and Rush?
Rush is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Hurry up: You need to hurry up or we will miss the train! Rush: I had to rush to the station to catch my train before it left.
Can I use Hurry up and Rush interchangeably?
Not always. Hurry up and Rush 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.