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Meaning & use

rushed

adjective, verb·Everyday

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UK/rʌʃt/
US/rʌʃt/

“rushed” is a form of “rush”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. adjectivenot comparable

    Feeling that you must hurry because you have too little time.

    Grammar: Used after linking verbs like be, feel, seem: I felt rushed this morning.

    Patterns

    • feel rushed
    • be rushed off your feet

    I felt rushed all day because I had three meetings and a deadline.

    She seemed rushed when I called, so I kept the conversation short.

    Don't feel rushed — we have plenty of time before the train leaves.

  2. adjectivenot comparable

    Done too quickly, often because of pressure or lack of time.

    Grammar: Comes before a noun: a rushed decision, a rushed meal.

    Patterns

    • a rushed job
    • a rushed decision
    • a rushed meal

    The report was a rushed job and contained several mistakes.

    We made a rushed decision to cancel the trip, and later we regretted it.

    It was a rushed breakfast — just coffee and a piece of toast.

  3. verbtransitive or intransitive

    Past tense and past participle of rush: moved or did something very quickly.

    Grammar: As a verb, rush can take an object (rush the work) or not (rush to the door).

    Patterns

    • rushed to something
    • rushed through something
    • rushed into something

    He rushed to the airport but still missed his flight.

    They rushed through the last part of the project to meet the deadline.

    She rushed into the room with the news.

Common combinations

feel rushed
I always feel rushed when I have back-to-back appointments.
rushed off your feet
The waiters were rushed off their feet during the lunch rush.
a rushed job
The painting looked like a rushed job, with paint dripping down the wall.
rushed decision
Buying the car was a rushed decision that he soon regretted.
rushed through something
The committee rushed through the new rules without proper discussion.

Synonyms and how they differ

hurried
Hurried is close but often describes actions or movements rather than a person's feeling; you can say 'a hurried meal' but 'I felt rushed' is more natural for feelings.
hasty
Hasty suggests careless speed and often criticizes the action itself, while rushed focuses on the pressure of too little time.
pressured
Pressured emphasizes the force from outside (deadlines, people) rather than the speed; you can feel pressured without actually moving quickly.

Opposites

unhurriedrelaxedcalm

Word family

rush verb
To move or do something with great speed.
rush noun
A sudden quick movement or a period of great activity.
rushing adjective
Moving or happening very quickly.

Commonly confused: rushed or rushed vs. rash?

rushed vs rushed vs. rash

Rushed means done quickly because of time pressure; rash means done without careful thought, often causing problems. A rushed decision may still be sensible; a rash decision is usually unwise.

Practice

Choose the best word to complete the sentence: 'I didn't have time for lunch, so I had a ______ sandwich at my desk.'

Make it your own

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