26984 words

rush

22 definitions • 50 examples
1
to (cause to) go or do something very quickly:

Examples:

rush (about/around) I've been rushing (about/around) all day trying to get everything done.
I rushed up the stairs/to the office/to find a phone.
When she turned it upside down the water rushed out.
[ + to infinitive ] We shouldn't rush to blame them.
You can't rush a job like this.
be rushed through The emergency legislation was rushed through Parliament in a morning.
Don't rush me!
The United Nations has rushed medical aid and food to the famine zone.
He rushed the children off to school so they wouldn't be late.
2
If a group of people rush an enemy or the place where an enemy is, they attack suddenly and all together:

Examples:

We rushed the palace gates and killed the guards.
3
In American football, to rush is to carry the ball forward across the place on the field where play begins. Also, a member of the opposite team rushes when they force their way to the back of the field quickly to catch the player carrying the ball.
4
in some US colleges, to take part in a process in which students look around fraternities (= social organizations for male students ) and sororities (= social organizations for female students) to see which one they would like to join, and fraternities and sororities try to attract new members:

Examples:

Check out a number of sororities before you rush.
Freshman students would no longer be allowed to rush fraternities and sororities in the fall semester.
She was looking forward to rushing Delta Sigma Theta sorority in the spring.
5
a situation in which you have to hurry or move somewhere quickly:

Examples:

Slow down! What's the rush?
Why is it always such a rush to get ready in the mornings?
in a rush Everyone seemed to be in a rush.
He was in a rush to get home.
in no rush They were in no rush to sell the house.
6
a time when a lot of things are happening or a lot of people are trying to do or get something:

Examples:

There's always a rush to get the best seats.
I try to do my shopping before the Christmas rush.
rush for There's been a rush for (= sudden popular demand for) tickets.
7

Examples:

rush of There was a rush of air as she opened the door.
They made a rush at him to get his gun.
8
a sudden movement of people to a certain area, usually because of some economic advantage:

Examples:

the California gold rush
9
in American football, an attempt to run forwards carrying the ball, or an attempt to quickly reach and stop a player from the opposing team who is carrying the ball
10

Examples:

The memory of who he was came back to him with a rush.
I had my first cigarette for a year and felt a sudden rush (of dizziness).
11
a plant like grass that grows in or near water and whose long, thin, hollow stems can be dried and made into floor coverings, containers, etc.:

Examples:

a rush mat
12
film that has just been shot, before it has been edited (= changed, for example by having parts removed):

Examples:

After the shoot the agency team will see rushes, that is all the film that was shot.
A film can be shot in London and its rushes previewed a few hours later in the US.
13
in some US colleges, a process in which students look around fraternities (= social organizations for male students ) and sororities (= social organizations for female students) to see which one they would like to join, and fraternities and sororities try to attract new members:

Examples:

Sorority rushes can be very expensive.
She participated in the sorority's fall recruitment drive called "rush".
It's rush season, and college students are deciding which fraternity or sorority they want to pledge.
14
to do something or move very quickly, or to cause someone to act in such a way; hurry:

Examples:

[ I ] She rushed toward me, talking and laughing.
[ I ] You shouldn’t rush out and buy one.
[ T ] We rushed her to the hospital.
[ T ] She never rushes her students.
15
something moving quickly, or the need for quick action:

Examples:

[ C ] a rush of cold air
[ U ] There’s no rush, I can wait.
"It’s like this," she said in a rush (= quickly).
16
A rush is also a sudden strong emotion or physical feeling:

Examples:

[ C ] a rush of excitement
17
to move or go somewhere very quickly:

Examples:

rush to/into/out of sth Rescue workers rushed to the site of the chemical fire.
18
to do something very quickly:

Examples:

We can't rush the process.
They've asked us to rush delivery of the credit card machines.
Please do the work carefully and do not rush.
19

Examples:

be in a rush (to do sth) He was in a rush to get to the meeting.
In my rush to get home, I left my laptop on my desk.
20
a time when a lot of people are leaving one place and going to another, for example leaving work to go to lunch, go home, etc.:

Examples:

the morning/lunchtime/evening rush
21
a time when many people try to buy something:

Examples:

a rush for sth The museums offered a bargain family membership, prompting a rush for the ticket counter.
a rush on sth There was a rush on disposable cameras.
22
a sudden movement towards something:

Examples:

make a rush at/for sth He made a rush at the door.

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