hastily

Hastily is an adverb used to describe actions performed quickly, often with insufficient thought or deliberation. The term implies urgency or carelessness rather than thoroughness, and it is commonly used to convey that a result may be flawed or improvised due to rushing.

Etymology and form: Hastily derives from the noun haste and the verb hasten, via the adjective hasty. The word family centers on speed and urgency, but in its adverbial form it specifically marks the manner of an action rather than its purpose.

Usage and nuance: In writing, hastily describes how something is done, not what is done. It can indicate practical necessity in time-sensitive situations, but it more often carries a negative connotation, suggesting a lack of careful planning or consideration. The word is flexible across genres, appearing in narrative scenes, reportorial passages, and reflective prose to signal rushed behavior or a hurried outcome.

Examples: They hastily assembled the report before the deadline. He hastily signed the form, unaware of a crucial error. In haste, the decision was made without consulting all stakeholders. The related idiom in haste emphasizes the same idea in a fixed expression, “in haste, a mess is made.”

Related terms: Haste (noun) denotes speed or urgency; hasten (verb) means to cause to move faster or to hurry; hasty (adjective) describes something done with speed and often without due consideration.

See also: hasty, haste, in haste. The contrasts among these forms help clarify how speed affects action and evaluation in different contexts.