English Meaning & Definitions
To move hurriedly with short, quick steps.
- “The mice scurried across the kitchen floor when I turned on the light.”
- “She scurried to finish her report before the deadline.”
An act of moving hurriedly or a state of bustling confusion.
- “There was a sudden scurry of activity in the office as the CEO arrived.”
- “With a final scurry, the squirrel disappeared up the oak tree.”
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “scurry”.
Originating in the early 18th century, 'scurry' is likely a back-formation from 'hurry-scurry,' a reduplicative term that emerged in the late 17th century to describe chaotic, hasty movement. It is thought to be an onomatopoeic creation, mimicking the sound of quick, light footsteps.
Think of a 'scurrying' mouse: it moves fast and makes a 'sk-sk-sk' sound with its tiny feet.
Frequently Asked Questions About “scurry”
1. What is the meaning of “scurry” in English?
In English, scurry (verb) is defined as: “To move hurriedly with short, quick steps.”.
2. How do you use “scurry” in a sentence?
“The mice scurried across the kitchen floor when I turned on the light.”
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “scurry”?
Originating in the early 18th century, 'scurry' is likely a back-formation from 'hurry-scurry,' a reduplicative term that emerged in the late 17th century to describe chaotic, hasty movement. It is thought to be an onomatopoeic creation, mimicking the sound of quick, light footsteps.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.