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haste

noun
\ ˈhāst How to pronounce haste (audio) \

Definition of haste

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : rapidity of motion : swiftness out of breath from haste— Jane 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 haste — Harper's
3 : undue eagerness to act In their haste to leave for the airport, they forgot their passports.

haste

verb
hasted; hasting

Definition of haste (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

archaic : to urge on : hasten with our fair entreaties haste them on— William Shakespeare haste thee, nymph, and bring with thee jest and youthful jollity— John Milton

intransitive verb

: to move or act swiftly these minutes even now hasting into eternity— Winston Churchill
Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about haste

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Choose the Right Synonym for haste

Noun

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: Noun

 Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. — Mary Schmich, chicagotribune.com, "Column: In the ‘noisy confusion of life,’ it’s time to read Toni Morrison and ‘Desiderata.’ And go to the zoo.," 9 Aug. 2019 And in his haste to start construction this year, López Obrador – whose energy policy is focused on increasing fossil fuel production in Mexico and rebuilding the coal industry – has demonstrated little concern for conservation. — Gabriel Diaz Montemayor, The Conversation, "Mexico wants to run a tourist train through its Mayan heartland — should it?," 13 Aug. 2019 An ambitious manager might have seen a rare opportunity, acted in haste and acquiesced to the seller's price. — Glenn Peoples, Billboard, "Did Scooter Braun Overpay for Big Machine Label Group? Not at All," 29 July 2019 So while the lungs make their way to the recipient, possibly from another hospital or city or even state, in haste, another team of surgeons preps the recipient. — Caitlin Dwyer, Longreads, "Shared Breath," 25 July 2019 In their haste, the people sometimes brush against one another. — Gwen Thompkins, The New Yorker, "An Eight-Second Film of 1915 New Orleans and the Mystery of Louis Armstrong’s Happiness," 8 July 2019 The sky fell down and killed them all, proving that haste makes waste, well begun is only half done and a stitch in time may not save anybody. — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Once upon a rhyme time: the tale of Chicken Licken," 6 July 2019 Players downplayed the difficulty in learning a another new scheme during the spring, which had to be done in haste given Avalos’ late addition to the staff, but there’s no way to overstate how significant a change this is for players to go through. — oregonlive.com, "Oregon MVP 10: New defensive coordinator Andy Avalos comes in at No. 4," 2 July 2019 Burnley and Everton have also been linked but Southampton's haste appears to have won them the day. — SI.com, "Transfer Rumours: Herrera's Next Move, Maguire Latest, Sarr to Newcastle or Watford & More," 18 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'haste.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of haste

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

History and Etymology for haste

Noun and Verb

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

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More Definitions for haste

haste

noun
How to pronounce haste (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of haste

: speed of motion or action : quickness or eagerness that can result in mistakes

See the full definition for haste in the English Language Learners Dictionary

haste

noun
\ ˈhāst How to pronounce haste (audio) \

Kids Definition of haste

1 : quickness of motion or action : speed He left in haste.
2 : hasty action Haste makes waste.

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More from Merriam-Webster on haste

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with haste

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for haste

Spanish Central: Translation of haste

Nglish: Translation of haste for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of haste for Arabic Speakers

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