Hurry vs Make haste

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Hurry

Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb

Make haste

Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Most common: Hurry
 HurryMake haste
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˈhʌri/","/ˈhʌriz/","/ˈhʌrid/","/ˈhʌriɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhɜːri/","/ˈhɜːriz/","/ˈhɜːrid/","/ˈhɜːriɪŋ/"]/🇬🇧 //meɪk heɪst//🇺🇸 //meɪk heɪst//
MeaningTo go fast or make someone go fast.To hurry or go quickly.
ExampleYou need to hurry if you want to catch the bus.We must **make haste** if we want to catch the last train.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 1,000 (very common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechverb
Collocationshurry up, in a hurry, hurry home, hurry along, hurry to finishmake haste slowly, make haste to, make haste and do
Antonymsdelay, slow, pause-
Common mistakesConfusing 'hurry' with 'rush' in different contexts., Using 'hurry' without an object when one is needed., Mispronouncing 'hurry' as if it has two syllables.Confused with 'make waste' - they are different expressions., Using in very informal settings where it sounds out of place., Forgetting to use it in the imperative form when commanding someone to hurry.
Usage notesUse 'hurry' when you need to act quickly. It's suitable for all types of communication but avoid it in very formal contexts.Use 'make haste' in slightly formal contexts or literary settings. It may sound old-fashioned in casual conversation.

See it in real clips

Hurry
Make haste

Frequently asked questions: Hurry vs Make haste

What's the difference between Hurry and Make haste?

Hurry: To go fast or make someone go fast. Make haste: To hurry or go quickly.

Which is more common: Hurry and Make haste?

Hurry is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Hurry: You need to hurry if you want to catch the bus. Make haste: We must **make haste** if we want to catch the last train.

Can I use Hurry and Make haste interchangeably?

Not always. Hurry and Make haste 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.

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