Hurry follow me vs Race vs Rush

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
 Hurry follow meRaceRush
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ˈhʌri ˈfɒləʊ miː//🇺🇸 //ˈhɜri ˈfɑloʊ mi//🇬🇧 /["/reɪs/"]/🇺🇸 /["/reɪs/"]/🇬🇧 /["/rʌʃ/","/ˈrʌʃɪz/","/rʌʃt/","/ˈrʌʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rʌʃ/","/ˈrʌʃɪz/","/rʌʃt/","/ˈrʌʃɪŋ/"]/
MeaningGo quickly with me.A competition to see who is the fastest.to move quickly or hurry
ExampleWhen 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.
RegisterNeutralNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 1,000 (very common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-A2B2
Part of speechnounverb
Collocationshurry up, follow closely, hurry through, follow directions, hurry and waitbig, 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 raceheadlong, 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-walk, crawlslow, dawdle, linger
Common mistakesConfused 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 eventIncorrectly 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 notesUsed 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.

See it in real clips

Hurry follow me
Race

Frequently asked questions: Hurry follow me vs Race vs Rush

What's the difference between Hurry follow me, Race, and Rush?

Hurry follow me: Go quickly with me. Race: A competition to see who is the fastest. Rush: to move quickly or hurry

Which is more advanced: Hurry follow me, Race, and Rush?

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.

Can I use Hurry follow me, Race, and Rush interchangeably?

Not always. Hurry follow me, Race, 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.

Related comparisons