Hasty
/ˈheɪsti/
adjectiveB1
Definition
Hasty describes an action or decision made very fast, usually without enough thought or care. It often suggests that because of the speed, mistakes or problems might happen. People use it when they want to warn about being too quick.
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See It in Action
Done or made quickly, often without enough thought
- •He made a hasty decision to leave the meeting early.
- •Don't be hasty when you answer; think before you speak.
- •The hasty repair on the car caused more problems later.
Showing or feeling hurry or impatience
- •She gave a hasty apology because she wanted to end the argument.
- •His hasty movements showed he was nervous.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "hasty" like "fast," but with a warning—fast without thinking well
- ✓Picture someone running to catch a bus, but dropping their bag because they moved too quickly
- ✓It's the feeling when you rush to answer a question and then realize you made a mistake
- ✓Sounds like "HAY-stee" → imagine hay blowing fast in the wind, moving quickly and carelessly
- ✓Remember stories where a character makes a quick choice and then regrets it, like in fairy tales
- ✓NOT like "quick" (which can be good and careful), "hasty" means too fast and not careful enough
- ✓NOT like "slow" (taking time), "hasty" is the opposite—too fast, sometimes careless
Try Other Words
- •Rash: acting without careful thought, often with risk (Use when the action is not only fast but also risky or foolish)
- •Quick: fast in action or movement (Use when speed is neutral or positive, without the negative meaning)
- •Impulsive: acting without thinking about the result (Use when the action is sudden and emotionally driven)
Unboxing
- •Prefix/root/suffix: "hasty" comes from the root "haste" + suffix "-y" meaning "full of" or "characterized by"
- •Etymology: From Old French "hastif," from Latin "hastāre," meaning to hasten or hurry
- •Historical development: Used since Middle English to describe quick or hurried actions
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to warn about decisions or actions done too quickly, often with a negative result
Reflect & Connect
•Can being hasty ever be a good thing? When might speed be more important than careful thought?
•How do you feel when someone makes a hasty decision about you or your work?
Fill in the blanks
1.He made a hasty decision ___ he did not have all the information.
2.A hasty apology often shows that someone wants to ___ an argument quickly.
3.Unlike careful planning, a hasty action usually leads to ___ mistakes.
4.When people feel nervous, their movements can become ___ and rushed.
5.You should avoid being hasty ___ important choices that affect your future.
6.A hasty repair often means the job was done ___ and may need fixing again.
7.The teacher warned the students not to be hasty ___ answering the test questions.