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Meaning of haste in English:

haste

Pronunciation /heɪst/

See synonyms for haste

Translate haste into Spanish

noun

mass noun

  • Excessive speed or urgency of movement or action; hurry.

    ‘working with feverish haste’
    • ‘I write in haste’
    • ‘Just over 2 years ago, local government legislation was passed under urgency and in haste.’
    • ‘Passion defines your relationships: you either fall for someone at first sight or marry in haste.’
    • ‘The writing on the wall was clear - never act in haste to repent at leisure.’
    • ‘Entertainment channels were launched in haste by overlooking the media habits of the population.’
    • ‘And so it seems blundering in haste and repenting at leisure is no one's monopoly.’
    • ‘The most recent action to evacuate was not taken in haste, he declares, and denounces those who say it was.’
    • ‘Unfortunately, in haste, mom used the diesel pump instead of unleaded.’
    • ‘One person who was in haste, trying to get out of that bus, twisted his ankle.’
    • ‘After they had seen her, she was in haste to get out of there and save her life.’
    • ‘It is also evident that the resident has been in haste, with random things lying about.’
    • ‘The inhabitants were pursued and had to flee in haste, so that many froze to death.’
    • ‘In haste, he fastens the door, then changes his mind and tries to make a run for it.’
    • ‘I hung up the phone in haste, because I still needed to get my blades on, and fast!’
    • ‘She commanded, and everyone ducked their heads in haste, not wanting to be seen.’
    • ‘I left the rest of my shopping and ran for the car, knocking over a display of biscuits in my haste to dodge people and escape.’
    • ‘He spun around to spot her making her way over to him; it appeared he had sped past her in his haste to get to the entrance.’
    • ‘It matters that Morgan was dismissed with unseemly haste by corporate interests clearly waiting for the opportunity.’
    • ‘The field workers picked away with growing haste, knowing that their break was only a matter of a few minutes away.’
    • ‘Your Honour, this matter has been brought on in some haste as I think you can see from the affidavit.’
    • ‘She packed her bag with as much haste as she could muster and promptly threw it over her shoulder.’
    speed, hastiness, hurry, hurriedness, swiftness, rapidity, rapidness, quickness, promptness, briskness, immediateness
    quickly, rapidly, fast, speedily, with alacrity, with urgency, in a rush, in a hurry, with dispatch
    View synonyms

verb

archaic term for hasten
‘[From Vivaculus:]… I hasted to London, and entreated one of my academical acquaintances to introduce me into some of the little societies of literature which are formed in taverns and coffee - houses.’
  • ‘For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.’
  • ‘And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.’
  • ‘And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.’
  • ‘Gibeon was also the scene of Joshua's ‘long day’ in which the ‘sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day’.’

Phrases

    more haste, less speed
    proverb

    • You make better progress with a task if you don't try to do it too quickly.

      ‘Doubtlessly the Government felt pressured on this front, and we were part of the push to implement the agency in question, but an attitude of ‘more haste, less speed’ may be counter-productive in this respect.’
      • ‘More haste, less speed! The feverish hand often gives itself additional toil.’
      • ‘My mum used to tell me 'More Haste, Less Speed', mostly when I had made a mess of something by rushing.’
    make haste

    • Hurry; hasten.

      ‘I make haste to seal this’
      • ‘As for rushing things, it is wise to make haste slowly, but make haste toward this goal nevertheless.’
      • ‘Hurry, Vicky, we shall make haste lest the guards be alerted of our taking leave.’
      • ‘My last train home was at 00: 20 so I decided I'd better make haste.’
      • ‘It was now after 11 PM and we decided to make haste and get out of the ‘security zone’ before it got much later.’
      • ‘Anyone wanting to apply for the jobs would need to make haste though, as the closing date for applications is Tuesday, July 27.’
      • ‘Africa should therefore make haste and come up with strategies, which will strengthen her position at a global level.’
      • ‘Others were encouraged to sell by estate agents who advised them to make haste.’
      • ‘Donning childlike smiles and glowing with eager anticipation, we made haste for the dining room just a few steps down the hall.’
      • ‘But shouldn't we make haste? They might be looking for us already.’
      • ‘This autumn devotees of the American artist Thomas Eakins will want to make haste to Philadelphia where two impressive exhibitions of his work are on view.’

Origin

Middle English from Old French haste (noun), haster (verb), of Germanic origin.