What is rush? Pronunciation and usage in English

rush means . Learn how to pronounce and use rush through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of rush

rushverb

/rʌʃ/
Definition & pronunciation of rush

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "rush" in English. There are two main ways it's pronounced, and they're quite different!

1. The American Pronunciation (Most Common):

  • Sound: /rʌʃ/ (This is a stressed syllable)
  • Breakdown:
    • "rʌ": This part rhymes with "run" or "cut." It's a short, quick "uh" sound.
    • "sh": This is the standard "sh" sound as in "ship" or "shoe."
  • Putting it together: It sounds like "ruh-sh" (but the "ruh" is very quick and light).

2. The British Pronunciation:

  • Sound: /rʊʃ/ (This is also a stressed syllable)
  • Breakdown:
    • "rʊ": This part is a longer, more drawn-out "uh" sound, almost like "rooh." It's a bit more rounded.
    • "sh": Again, the standard "sh" sound.
  • Putting it together: It sounds like "roosh" (with the "oo" sound slightly elongated).

Here's a handy tip:

  • Where you are from matters! If you're in the United States, most people will assume you mean the American pronunciation (/rʌʃ/). If you're in the UK or another Commonwealth country, the British pronunciation (/rʊʃ/) is more likely.

Resources to Hear the Pronunciation:

To help me give you even more targeted guidance, could you tell me:

  • Where are you located (roughly)? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia, etc.)

Usage and examples with the word rush in English

Let's break down how to use the word "rush" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with several different meanings! Here's a breakdown categorized by its common uses:

1. As a Verb (Action - To Move Quickly)

  • Meaning: To move or travel with great speed; to hurry.
  • Examples:
    • “We need to rush to the hospital – it’s an emergency!”
    • “The runners rushed to the starting line.”
    • “She rushed out of the room, embarrassed.”
    • “The salespeople rushed to close the deal.”

2. As a Noun (A Feeling of Anxiety & Speed)

  • Meaning: A feeling of anxiety, excitement, and a need to do something quickly. It’s often associated with a feeling of being overwhelmed.
  • Examples:
    • "I felt a rush of adrenaline before the presentation." (Referring to a physical sensation)
    • "She experienced a rush of happiness when she received the good news."
    • "He had a rush of anger when he heard the criticism."
    • "The adrenaline rush from the rollercoaster was incredible."

3. As a Noun (A Flow of People or Things)

  • Meaning: A large number of people or things moving together quickly.
  • Examples:
    • “There was a rush at the checkout counter during the holiday sale.”
    • “A rush of tourists flooded the city streets.”
    • "A rush of water surged through the broken dam."

4. As a Noun (Liquid – A Flow of something, often money or air)

  • Meaning: A sudden or large flow of something, particularly liquids (like water, blood, or money) or gas.
  • Examples:
    • “There was a rush of blood to his head.”
    • “A rush of steam escaped from the pipe.”
    • "A rush of air hit us when the door opened." (Often used to describe a powerful gust of wind)

5. Figurative Usage (A Sudden Transition or Change)

  • Meaning: To suddenly change to a more active or exciting state.
  • Examples:
    • "His mood rushed from sadness to joy."
    • "The project rushed forward despite the setbacks."

Key Considerations & Synonyms:

  • Intensity: "Rush" implies speed and often a degree of urgency or even anxiety.
  • Synonyms: Depending on the meaning, consider: hurry, dash, sprint, scramble, surge, flow, flood.

Tips for Choosing the Right "Rush":

  1. Context is key: Pay close attention to the sentence and the surrounding words to determine the specific meaning of "rush."
  2. Think about the action: Is it about movement (verb)? Is it about a feeling (noun)? Is it about a flow (noun)?

Would you like me to:

  • Give you more examples of specific uses?
  • Focus on a particular part of speech (verb, noun, etc.)?
  • Provide a comparison of "rush" with similar words like "hurry" or "scramble"?

Synonyms for the word rush

Idioms of the word rush

be rushed/run off your feet
to be extremely busy; to have too many things to do
  • Weekdays are slow in the restaurant, but at weekends the staff are rushed off their feet.
fools rush in (where angels fear to tread)
(saying)people with little experience try to do the difficult or dangerous things that more experienced people would not consider doing

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