Hasty
'heɪsti
Definitions
Acting or done with excessive speed or lack of forethought; hurried.
'heɪsti
Done or acting quickly, sometimes without thinking.
She made a hasty exit when she realized she was late.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're building a Lego castle. If you're *hasty*, you might slap the bricks together without making sure they're connected right, and it could fall apart! Being *hasty* is like rushing to do something without taking your time to do it well.
👶 For kids: If you are *hasty*, you are doing something super quick and maybe without thinking!
More Examples
The government's hasty response to the crisis was criticized.
Don't make a hasty judgment; consider all the facts.
How It's Used
"He made a hasty decision and regretted it later."
"The company made a hasty retreat from the market."
Idioms & expressions
make a hasty decision
To make a decision quickly, often without enough thought or information.
"He knew the offer was too good to be true, but he was so eager that he made a hasty decision."
hasty generalization
A conclusion based on insufficient or biased evidence.
"The survey had a small sample size, which led to a hasty generalization."
From Middle English *hasty*, from Old French *hastif*, from *haste* ('haste'), from Frankish **haist* ('violence, speed').
The word 'hasty' has been used since the Middle Ages, evolving from a term describing rapid action or movement to include a broader sense of impulsiveness.
Memory tip
Think of a fast-moving *hare* – often *hasty* and doesn't always think before acting.