scurry - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
scurry Word Meanings
- to move quickly and hurriedly
- to skitter or scamper
- to act with haste
scurry Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
scurry Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈskʌri/
US
/ˈskɜri/
scurry Word Etymology
From the Middle English 'scurrien' (to scurry away), possibly from the Scottish 'scurry' (to hurry). Imagine a small creature swiftly darting back to its burrow, illustrating the hastiness implied in the word.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
Scurry is a verb meaning to move quickly and hurriedly with short steps, often in a nervous or alert way. It can describe both animals and people, and it conveys speed as well as a sense of urgency rather than distance. You might say a mouse scurries across a kitchen floor, commuters scurry along a platform to catch a train, or a child scurries back inside when rain starts. The nuance is often tied to anxiety or scrambling in a tight space, not a long, sustained run. Learners sometimes confuse scurry with skitter or scamper, which carry slightly different images of movement.
Usage Reminders
- Use for quick, nervous movement; not for long distances.
- Describe both animals and people.
- Collocate with off, back, and about to show direction.
- Pair with adjectives like hurried, anxious, or frantic for nuance.
- Compare with skitter or scamper to capture slightly different images.
- Avoid formal contexts where longer, steady movement is implied.
Common Misconceptions
- It describes only animal movement.
- It means the same as hurry or rush in every context.
- It always implies long-distance running.
- It has only a neutral or positive tone.
- It cannot be used in formal writing.
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker: scurry evokes a brisk, anxious sprint over a short distance; it is not about endurance and often paints a mental image of scrambling in a tight space.
Learning Tips
- 1) Practice common collocations: scurry off, scurry back, scurry about.
- 2) Compare with skitter and scamper to sense subtle nuance.
- 3) Use in present tense with adverbs like quickly, nervously.
- 4) Create micro-contexts (small space, tight deadline).
- 5) Record yourself saying sentences to hear the brisk pace.
- 6) Read or listen for scurry in kids’ books or nature scenes.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'scurry'?
A.To walk slowly
B.To swim gracefully
C.To move quickly and with short steps
D.To fly high in the sky
Step 2: Usage
In which of the following sentences is 'scurry' used correctly?
A.The turtle scurried across the road at a snail's pace.
B.The rabbit scurried through the forest silently.
C.The fish scurried through the water with ease.
D.The sloth scurried up the tree to avoid danger.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which of the following is a synonym of 'scurry'?
A.Dash
B.Crawl
C.Jog
D.Saunter
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'scurry'?
A.Stroll
B.Prowl
C.Stride
D.March
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life scenario might you see an animal 'scurry'?
A.A cheetah hunting its prey
B.A bear hibernating in a cave
C.A mouse running across the floor
D.A sloth moving slowly in the trees
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