unhurriedly

unhurriedly — adverb

1. in a manner that shows no rush or urgency, with calm control rather than speed —

1.adverbC1
Definition

in a manner that shows no rush or urgency, with calm control rather than speed — for example, crossing a room unhurriedly to greet a guest, or eating unhurriedly while enjoying conversation.

Example

Yael walked unhurriedly through the old market, stopping to look at each stall of handmade pottery.

collocation: walk unhurriedly + through [place]

Manuela ate her lunch unhurriedly, enjoying every bite as the afternoon sun filled the café.

collocation: eat unhurriedly

Common collocations
  • walk unhurriedly
  • eat unhurriedly
  • speak unhurriedly
  • read unhurriedly
  • move unhurriedly
Synonyms
  • leisurely

    suggests an enjoyable, relaxed pace with a pleasant quality, whereas unhurriedly simply emphasises the absence of rush

  • calmly

    focuses more on emotional composure than on the pace of movement

  • deliberately

    implies a slow, careful intention, often to achieve precision rather than to relax

Antonyms
  • hurriedly

    direct opposite — done with rush and speed

  • hastily

    implies speed combined with a lack of care

Usage Note

This adverb is more typical of written narratives and descriptive prose than of everyday conversation. It pairs naturally with verbs describing deliberate physical actions such as walk, eat, speak, read, or work.

Common Mistakes

She unhurriedly finished her homework before the deadline.' — 'unhurriedly' does not fit an urgent or time-bound situation.
She unhurriedly finished her homework, taking breaks to enjoy the sunny afternoon.
the context must show an absence of time pressure.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All five words describe actions done at a reduced speed, but they emphasise different aspects. Unhurriedly stresses the absence of time pressure: someone who walks unhurriedly is not in a rush, but may still be moving at a normal pace. Leisurely adds a tone of enjoyment — a leisurely stroll is taken for pleasure, not just to avoid rushing. Calmly focuses on the emotional state: you can speak calmly even in an emergency if you control your fear. Deliberately highlights intention: a surgeon moves deliberately to be precise, not necessarily to relax. Slowly is the most neutral — it only describes speed and carries no connotation of calm, enjoyment, or intention. For describing a relaxed morning with no fixed schedule, unhurriedly or leisurely best convey the mood; for describing careful work, deliberately is the better choice.

unhurriedly ↗leisurelycalmly ↗deliberately ↗slowly ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • walk unhurriedly
  • eat unhurriedly
  • speak unhurriedly
  • read unhurriedly
  • move unhurriedly
  • work unhurriedly

Etymology

English

Formed in English from the prefix un- (meaning 'not') + hurried (the past participle of hurry, from the verb hurry) + the adverb-forming suffix -ly. The verb hurry first appeared in the late 16th century, possibly imitating the sound of rushing movement. By the 19th century, unhurried (the adjective) was in use, and unhurriedly followed as the adverbial form.