3 syllables: hast, i, ly. Stress on hast.
HAY-stuh-lee
/ˈheɪstəli/
hastily is pronounced HAY-stuh-lee (/ˈheɪstəli/). It has three syllables (hast-i-ly), with the stress on "hast". Hastily is an adverb meaning performing an action quickly and with little thought or deliberation. It implies haste and urgency, often resulting in carelessness or rushed outcomes. The word emphasizes speed over deliberation, typically describing actions done without sufficient consideration or preparation.
Hastily is an adverb meaning performing an action quickly and with little thought or deliberation. It implies haste and urgency, often resulting in carelessness or rushed outcomes. The word emphasizes speed over deliberation, typically describing actions done without sufficient consideration or preparation.
"She hastily packed her bags just before the train left."
"The committee hastily approved the proposal under pressure."
"He spoke hastily, regretting the words as soon as they left his mouth."
Say ha-sti-ly with the primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈhæ.stɪ.li/ in US/UK. The first syllable uses the short a as in cat, the middle syllable is a short i as in sit, and the final -ly is a light syllable. Keep the 'st' cluster clear without adding extra vowel sounds between segments. You’ll want a crisp /s/ after /t/ as you transition to the final /i/.
Two frequent errors: (1) Misplacing stress, trying Hast-uh-lee instead of the correct HAB- STĪ-lee pattern; ensure primary stress on first syllable. (2) Reducing the middle vowel too much, producing /ˈhæsi.li/ or a blending that obscures the /t/; practice keeping the /t/ solid before the /ɪ/ by articulating the stop firmly. Correct by isolating the middle consonant cluster and exaggerating lightly during practice.
In US, the /æ/ in the first syllable is clear and the /t/ is a light, unaspirated or lightly aspirated [ɪ] transition before /l/ in some rapid speech. UK often maintains crisper consonants, with /ˈhɑːstɪli/ in some varieties, where the first vowel can be broader. Australian tends toward a flatter /æ/ with a slightly softer /t/ and visible syllable boundaries, but maintains the same three-syllable rhythm. Overall rhotics are less prominent in non-US varieties, but the syllable count remains 3.
The difficulty lies in maintaining three clean syllables with a clear /st/ sequence between the initial vowel and the middle /ɪ/. The /st/ cluster can blur in rapid speech, and the final /li/ can voice into a lighter, almost syllabic /l/ if not practiced. Focus on separating syllables lightly: /hæ-stɪ-li/ and keeping the first vowel short and crisp, then finishing with a tight, quick /li/.
Generally, hastily keeps all three vowels distinct in careful speech, yielding /hæ-stɪ-li/. In very fast or informal speech, some reduction can occur in the middle vowel, producing a subtle /hæ-sɪ-li/ feel, but the middle /ɪ/ should not fully disappear. To avoid reduction, practice with slow tempo, then progressively speed up while maintaining the middle vowel clearly.
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Hastily comes from the Middle English hasten (‘to make ready, to hurry’) which itself derives from Old English hastian ‘to hasten, to urge on.’ The root is related to German hasten and Dutch haasten, reflecting a common Germanic lineage. The adverbial form -ly developed in Middle English as adjectives adopted to describe manner: “in a hastily manner” evolved to the conventional “hastily.” Over centuries, the word broadened from the general sense of quickness to connotations of rushing with insufficient care. The earliest known uses trace to the 14th- to 15th-centuries English literature, where haste and hurried action were common motifs. In modern English, hastily retains its core meaning of speed with potential lack of thought, and it is frequently paired with verbs of action and decision, signaling urgency that can undermine quality.
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Words that rhyme with "hastily"
-sty sounds
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