The word hurry means to do something quickly because there is not much time.
It is common in everyday English, but using the same word again and again can make your communication sound repetitive.
Learning other ways to say hurry helps you speak and write with more variety.
It also lets you choose the right tone for different people and situations.
For example, “Hurry up!” can sound direct or impatient, while “Please be quick” can sound more polite.
In a workplace, “Could you expedite this?” may be more suitable than “Hurry up.” In casual conversations, “Come on!” or “Get a move on!” may sound more natural.
This guide explains 20 alternatives to hurry, including their meanings, tones, examples, and best uses.
What Does “Hurry” Mean?
Hurry means to move, act, or finish something quickly, usually because time is limited.
It can work as both a verb and a noun.
- Verb: “Please hurry.”
- Noun: “We are in a hurry.”
The phrase “hurry up” is especially common when asking someone to move faster.
For example:
- “Please hurry up. The bus is coming.”
- “I need to hurry or I will be late.”
- “We are in a hurry because the meeting starts soon.”
The exact meaning is simple, but the tone can change. Hurry up may sound friendly between close friends, but it can sound impatient when used with a customer, manager, teacher, or stranger.
That is why learning synonyms for hurry and alternatives to hurry is useful.
When to Use “Hurry”
You can use hurry in many everyday situations.
Formal Use
In formal English, hurry is acceptable, but softer expressions are often better.
For example:
- “Please hurry so we can begin the meeting.”
- “We need to hurry to meet the deadline.”
In professional writing, phrases such as please act promptly, please respond as soon as possible, or please expedite the process may sound more polished.
Informal Use
Hurry is very common in casual speech.
Examples include:
- “Hurry! We are going to be late.”
- “Come on, hurry up!”
- “Hurry or we will miss the train.”
Written English
In emails and messages, choose your words based on your relationship with the reader. “Hurry up” can sound demanding, while “Could you please handle this as soon as possible?” sounds more professional.
Spoken English
In conversation, short phrases are common. Friends may say “Come on!”, “Quick!”, or “Get a move on!”
Is It Professional or Polite to Say “Hurry”?
Yes, hurry can be polite, but the surrounding words matter.
“Please hurry” is more polite than “Hurry up!” However, even “Please hurry” can sound urgent or demanding depending on your voice and situation.
In professional communication, it is often better to explain the reason for urgency.
For example:
Less polished:
“Please hurry with the report.”
More professional:
“Could you please send the report as soon as possible? We need it for this afternoon’s meeting.”
Words such as please, could you, when possible, and as soon as possible can make an urgent request sound more respectful.
When speaking to customers or senior colleagues, avoid expressions that sound like commands unless there is a genuine emergency.
Pros and Cons of Using “Hurry”
Pros
- Simple: Almost every English learner understands it.
- Common: Native speakers use it often.
- Flexible: It works in spoken and written English.
- Clear: It quickly communicates urgency.
- Natural: It fits many everyday situations.
Cons
- Can sound impatient: “Hurry up!” may feel rude.
- Can sound demanding: It may seem like an order.
- Can be repetitive: Frequent use limits vocabulary variety.
- Not always ideal for business: Some professional situations need softer wording.
- Tone depends on context: The same phrase can sound friendly or aggressive.
20 Other Ways to Say Hurry
Below are 20 alternatives to hurry that can help you choose a better expression for each situation.
1. Hurry Up
Meaning: Move or act more quickly.
Explanation: Hurry up is one of the most common ways to tell someone to be faster. It is natural but can sound impatient if said sharply.
Example Sentence: “Hurry up, or we will miss the movie.”
Best Use: Informal, casual, spoken English.
Worst Use: Formal business communication with customers or senior professionals.
Tone: Emphatic.
2. Be Quick
Meaning: Do something quickly.
Explanation: Be quick is short and direct. It is useful when there is very little time.
Example Sentence: “Be quick! The doors are closing.”
Best Use: Casual and urgent situations.
Worst Use: Formal requests where a softer tone is expected.
Tone: Emphatic.
3. Please Hurry
Meaning: A polite request for someone to move faster.
Explanation: Adding please makes the request softer, although it still communicates urgency.
Example Sentence: “Please hurry; the doctor is waiting for us.”
Best Use: Everyday spoken English.
Worst Use: Situations where there is no real need for speed.
Tone: Polite and urgent.
4. Come On
Meaning: Move faster or start moving.
Explanation: Come on is common among friends and family. It can show encouragement, impatience, or urgency depending on your voice.
Example Sentence: “Come on, we need to leave now.”
Best Use: Informal and casual conversations.
Worst Use: Formal emails and professional requests.
Tone: Friendly or emphatic.
5. Get a Move On
Meaning: Start moving faster.
Explanation: This idiomatic expression tells someone to stop delaying and move. It is natural in casual English.
Example Sentence: “Get a move on! We have only ten minutes left.”
Best Use: Informal speech.
Worst Use: Formal workplace communication.
Tone: Emphatic.
6. Step on It
Meaning: Go faster or move quickly.
Explanation: Step on it is an informal idiom. It is often used when talking to a driver or asking someone to increase speed.
Example Sentence: “Step on it, or we will be late for the flight.”
Best Use: Casual spoken English.
Worst Use: Formal writing.
Tone: Urgent and informal.
7. Pick Up the Pace
Meaning: Increase your speed.
Explanation: This phrase is useful when someone needs to work, walk, run, or progress faster.
Example Sentence: “We need to pick up the pace if we want to finish today.”
Best Use: Business, work, sports, and everyday situations.
Worst Use: Very formal situations where a more precise request is needed.
Tone: Neutral and encouraging.
8. Move Quickly
Meaning: Act or travel at a faster speed.
Explanation: Move quickly is clear and neutral. It does not have the strong emotional feeling of hurry up.
Example Sentence: “We need to move quickly to solve this problem.”
Best Use: Business, formal, and everyday English.
Worst Use: Friendly situations where a more relaxed phrase would sound natural.
Tone: Neutral.
9. Act Quickly
Meaning: Take action without delay.
Explanation: Act quickly focuses on making a decision or taking action rather than physically moving.
Example Sentence: “We must act quickly before the offer expires.”
Best Use: Business, formal, written, and professional English.
Worst Use: Simple situations such as asking someone to walk faster.
Tone: Professional and urgent.
10. Act Promptly
Meaning: Take action without unnecessary delay.
Explanation: Act promptly is a polished expression often used in professional communication. It is especially useful in emails, instructions, and official writing.
Example Sentence: “Please act promptly to avoid further delays.”
Best Use: Formal and business English.
Worst Use: Casual conversations with close friends.
Tone: Formal and professional.
11. Please Be Prompt
Meaning: Please arrive, respond, or act on time.
Explanation: Be prompt focuses on being timely rather than simply moving faster. It works well for appointments, meetings, and responses.
Example Sentence: “Please be prompt for tomorrow’s meeting.”
Best Use: Business, formal, and written communication.
Worst Use: Casual situations where it may sound too formal.
Tone: Formal and polite.
12. Do It Quickly
Meaning: Complete an action fast.
Explanation: This is a simple phrase that clearly communicates speed. It can sound like a command if used without please.
Example Sentence: “Please do it quickly because we are running out of time.”
Best Use: Everyday and informal communication.
Worst Use: Sensitive professional requests without a polite expression.
Tone: Direct.
13. As Soon as Possible
Meaning: At the earliest practical time.
Explanation: As soon as possible, often shortened to ASAP, is one of the most useful alternatives in professional English. It asks for speed without directly telling someone to hurry.
Example Sentence: “Please send me the updated document as soon as possible.”
Best Use: Business, emails, work, and everyday communication.
Worst Use: When the request is not actually urgent.
Tone: Professional and urgent.
14. Without Delay
Meaning: Immediately or without waiting.
Explanation: This phrase strongly emphasizes that something should not be delayed. It is more formal than hurry up.
Example Sentence: “Please contact the client without delay.”
Best Use: Formal and professional writing.
Worst Use: Relaxed conversations with friends.
Tone: Formal and urgent.
15. Expedite It
Meaning: Make a process happen faster.
Explanation: Expedite is a useful professional verb. It usually applies to processes, requests, orders, documents, or tasks rather than physically moving.
Example Sentence: “Could you expedite the approval process?”
Best Use: Business and professional English.
Worst Use: Casual conversations where simple language is better.
Tone: Formal and professional.
16. Speed Things Up
Meaning: Make something happen faster.
Explanation: Speed things up is a natural phrasal verb. It can describe work, a process, a service, or physical movement.
Example Sentence: “We need to speed things up if we want to finish before lunch.”
Best Use: Business and casual English.
Worst Use: Very formal documents.
Tone: Neutral and friendly.
17. Make It Snappy
Meaning: Do something quickly.
Explanation: Make it snappy is an informal idiom. It is often playful, but it can sound bossy depending on the situation.
Example Sentence: “Make it snappy; the taxi is waiting.”
Best Use: Casual and humorous conversations.
Worst Use: Professional communication.
Tone: Playful and emphatic.
18. Get Moving
Meaning: Start moving or stop delaying.
Explanation: Get moving is a direct expression used when someone needs to start immediately.
Example Sentence: “Get moving, or we will miss the bus.”
Best Use: Casual spoken English.
Worst Use: Formal business emails.
Tone: Emphatic.
19. Don’t Waste Time
Meaning: Start or continue an activity without unnecessary delay.
Explanation: This phrase focuses on avoiding delay. It can motivate someone, but it may sound harsh if used with the wrong person.
Example Sentence: “Don’t waste time; let’s start the project.”
Best Use: Informal, motivational, and urgent situations.
Worst Use: Polite customer service communication.
Tone: Direct and emphatic.
20. Move Along
Meaning: Continue moving or proceed to the next activity.
Explanation: Move along does not always mean “hurry.” It often means to continue or leave a place. Context is important.
Example Sentence: “We should move along if we want to see everything before sunset.”
Best Use: Casual conversation and general situations.
Worst Use: When you need to clearly communicate an immediate emergency.
Tone: Neutral.
Quick Comparison of the Best Alternatives
| Alternative | Tone | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Please hurry | Polite | Everyday requests |
| Move quickly | Neutral | Formal and general |
| Act promptly | Formal | Business |
| As soon as possible | Professional | Emails and work |
| Expedite it | Formal | Business processes |
| Get a move on | Emphatic | Casual speech |
| Make it snappy | Playful | Informal conversations |
The best phrase depends on your audience and the reason for urgency. As soon as possible is often a safer choice at work, while get a move on sounds more natural with friends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a polite way to say hurry?
“Please hurry” is a simple polite option. In professional situations, “Could you please do this as soon as possible?” sounds softer.
What is a professional way to say hurry?
Good professional alternatives include “Please act promptly,” “Please respond as soon as possible,” and “Could you expedite this?”
What is a casual way to say hurry?
You can say “Hurry up,” “Come on,” “Get a move on,” “Get moving,” or “Be quick.”
Is “hurry up” rude?
Not always. With friends or family, it can sound normal. However, it may sound impatient or demanding in professional situations.
What is another word for hurry?
Depending on the context, alternatives include rush, hasten, speed up, move quickly, act promptly, and expedite. These words are not always interchangeable, so consider the situation before choosing one.
Conclusion
Learning other ways to say hurry can make your English more natural, flexible, and confident.
Hurry up is useful, but it is not the best choice for every situation.
With friends, expressions like get a move on or come on can sound natural.
At work, as soon as possible, act promptly, or expedite it may sound more professional.
The key is to match your words with your audience, purpose, and tone.
Try using a different phrase each time you need to express urgency.
With practice, you will build a stronger vocabulary and communicate more clearly in both casual and professional English.
Alden Rowen is the author behind Meanings Path, sharing clear and reliable insights into the meanings, origins, and significance of words, names, and phrases. His goal is to make language simple, useful, and easy to understand.