Hurly-burly — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˌhər-lē-ˈbər-lē/ hur·ly-bur·ly

Meaning & Definition of Hurly-burly

Hurly-burly (noun)

  1. uproar, tumult

Hurly-burly (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a state of noisy, confused activity

    "lost sight of his children in all the hurly-burly of the fair"

    similar: ado, alarums and excursions, ballyhoo, blather, bluster, bobbery, bother, bustle, clatter, clutter (chiefly dialect), coil, commotion, disturbance, do (chiefly dialect), foofaraw, fun, furor, furore, fuss, helter-skelter, hoo-ha, hoopla, hubble-bubble, hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly, hurricane, hurry, hurry-scurry, kerfuffle (chiefly British), moil, pandemonium, pother, row, ruckus, ruction, rumpus, shindy, splore (Scottish), squall, stew, stir, storm, to-do, tumult, turmoil, uproar, welter, whirl, williwaw, zoo
    related: cacophony, clamor, din, howl, hue and cry, noise, outcry, racket, roar, disorder, unrest, upheaval, eruption, flare-up, flurry, flutter, outbreak, outburst, brawl, fracas, fray, hassle, melee, scuffle, dither, fever, fret, lather, tizzy
    near: calm, hush, peace, quiet, quietude, rest, stillness, tranquility, order, orderliness

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hurly-burly

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hurly-burly:

Chiefly dialect: clutter, do
Chiefly British: kerfuffle
Scottish: splore
ado, alarums and excursions, ballyhoo, blather, bluster, bobbery, bother, bustle, clatter, coil, commotion, disturbance, foofaraw, fun, furor, furore, fuss, helter-skelter, hoo-ha, hoopla, hubble-bubble, hubbub, hullabaloo, hurly, hurricane, hurry, hurry-scurry, moil, pandemonium, pother, row, ruckus, ruction, rumpus, shindy, squall, stew, stir, storm, to-do

Related Words for Hurly-burly

cacophony, clamor, din, howl, hue and cry, noise, outcry, racket, roar, disorder, unrest, upheaval, eruption, flare-up, flurry, flutter, outbreak, outburst, brawl, fracas, fray, hassle, melee, scuffle, dither, fever, fret, lather, tizzy

Near Antonyms of Hurly-burly

calm, hush, peace, quiet, quietude, rest, stillness, tranquility, order, orderliness

Word Forms of Hurly-burly

Derived words: hurly-burly (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Hurly-burly

probably alteration & reduplication of hurling, gerund of hurl

First known use: 1539

Frequently Asked Questions about Hurly-burly

What does "Hurly-burly" mean?

"Hurly-burly" means uproar, tumult. As a noun, it is defined as: uproar, tumult.

What is another word for "Hurly-burly"?

Other words for "Hurly-burly" include ado, alarums and excursions, ballyhoo, blather, bluster, bobbery, bother and bustle. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hurly-burly" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hurly-burly"?

There are 80 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hurly-burly". Common alternatives include ado, alarums and excursions, ballyhoo, blather, bluster, bobbery, bother, bustle, clatter and clutter.

How do you use "Hurly-burly" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hurly-burly" in a sentence: "lost sight of his children in all the hurly-burly of the fair".

Is "Hurly-burly" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hurly-burly" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Hurly-burly"?

"Hurly-burly" is pronounced /ˌhər-lē-ˈbər-lē/ and divided into syllables as hur·ly-bur·ly.

What is the origin of the word "Hurly-burly"?

"Hurly-burly" comes from probably alteration & reduplication of hurling, gerund of hurl. First known use: 1539.

What is another word for "Hurly-burly" meaning "a state of noisy, confused activity"?

When "Hurly-burly" (noun) means a state of noisy, confused activity, synonyms include ado, alarums and excursions, ballyhoo, blather, bluster and bobbery.