Cool MateHurry vs Make haste vs Rush
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)
Rush
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
| Hurry | Make haste | Rush | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈhʌri/","/ˈhʌriz/","/ˈhʌrid/","/ˈhʌriɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈhɜːri/","/ˈhɜːriz/","/ˈhɜːrid/","/ˈhɜːriɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //meɪk heɪst//🇺🇸 //meɪk heɪst// | 🇬🇧 /["/rʌʃ/","/ˈrʌʃɪz/","/rʌʃt/","/ˈrʌʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rʌʃ/","/ˈrʌʃɪz/","/rʌʃt/","/ˈrʌʃɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To go fast or make someone go fast. | To hurry or go quickly. | to move quickly or hurry |
| Example | You need to hurry if you want to catch the bus. | We must **make haste** if we want to catch the last train. | I had to rush to the station to catch my train before it left. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | verb | |
| Collocations | hurry up, in a hurry, hurry home, hurry along, hurry to finish | make haste slowly, make haste to, make haste and do | 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 | delay, slow, pause | - | slow, dawdle, linger |
| Common mistakes | Confusing '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. | 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 | Use '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. | Commonly used when talking about a need to hurry, like catching a bus. Avoid in very formal situations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hurry vs Make haste vs Rush
What's the difference between Hurry, Make haste, and Rush?
Hurry: To go fast or make someone go fast. Make haste: To hurry or go quickly. Rush: to move quickly or hurry
Which is more advanced: Hurry, Make haste, and Rush?
Rush is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
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. Rush: I had to rush to the station to catch my train before it left.
Can I use Hurry, Make haste, and Rush interchangeably?
Not always. Hurry, Make haste, 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.