haste

1 of 2

noun

1
: rapidity of motion : swiftness
out of breath from hasteJane Austen
We must make haste.
2
: rash or headlong action : precipitateness
She sent the letter in haste and later regretted it.
the beauty of speed uncontaminated by hasteHarper's
3
: undue eagerness to act
In their haste to leave for the airport, they forgot their passports.

haste

2 of 2

verb

hasted; hasting

transitive verb

archaic : to urge on : hasten
with our fair entreaties haste them onWilliam Shakespeare
haste thee, nymph, and bring with thee jest and youthful jollityJohn Milton

intransitive verb

: to move or act swiftly
these minutes even now hasting into eternityWinston Churchill
Choose the Right Synonym for haste

haste, hurry, speed, expedition, dispatch mean quickness in movement or action.

haste applies to personal action and implies urgency and precipitancy and often rashness.

marry in haste

hurry often has a strong suggestion of agitated bustle or confusion.

in the hurry of departure she forgot her toothbrush

speed suggests swift efficiency in movement or action.

exercises to increase your reading speed

expedition and dispatch both imply speed and efficiency in handling affairs but expedition stresses ease or efficiency of performance and dispatch stresses promptness in concluding matters.

the case came to trial with expedition
paid bills with dispatch

Examples of haste in a Sentence

Noun The application had been approved with undue haste. made haste to get there on time
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
That reflects a view among DEI professionals and specialist recruitment firms that the pledges on racial inclusion in 2020 were made in haste. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 18 Oct. 2024 Others worry that in its haste to stand up to one authoritarian regime, the US has wound up courting others. Issie Lapowsky, WIRED, 10 Oct. 2024
Verb
Should this pocket-size French import be legal to park in your driveway, make all haste to bid. Brendan McAleer, Car and Driver, 17 Nov. 2022 But haste and carelessness in crafting the aid created a wellspring for fraud and waste - a mess that hundreds of federal investigators are still trying to clean up. Lisa Rein and Yeganeh Torbati, Anchorage Daily News, 25 Aug. 2022 See all Example Sentences for haste 

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English hǣst violence

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of haste was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near haste

Cite this Entry

“Haste.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/haste. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

haste

1 of 2 noun
1
: rapidity of motion or action
2
: reckless action
3
: eagerness to act that is not proper or suitable

haste

2 of 2 verb
hasted; hasting
: hasten

More from Merriam-Webster on haste

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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