Make haste vs Rush

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

Make haste

Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Rush

Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Most common: Rush
 Make hasteRush
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //meɪk heɪst//🇺🇸 //meɪk heɪst//🇬🇧 /["/rʌʃ/","/ˈrʌʃɪz/","/rʌʃt/","/ˈrʌʃɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rʌʃ/","/ˈrʌʃɪz/","/rʌʃt/","/ˈrʌʃɪŋ/"]/
MeaningTo hurry or go quickly.to move quickly or hurry
ExampleWe 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.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonBeyond 10,000 (less common)Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level-B2
Part of speechverb
Collocationsmake haste slowly, make haste to, make haste and doheadlong, 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 mistakesConfused 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 notesUse '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.

See it in real clips

Make haste

Frequently asked questions: Make haste vs Rush

What's the difference between Make haste and Rush?

Make haste: To hurry or go quickly. Rush: to move quickly or hurry

Which is more common: Make haste and Rush?

Rush is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

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 Make haste and Rush interchangeably?

Not always. 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.

Related comparisons