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flurry

flurry

53 3.9
A sudden short burst of activity, wind, or snow
  • noun
  • /ˈflərē/
translation icon : oleada
  • Some years ago, you may remember, there was a flurry in the media about the culture wars.
  • a flurry of activity
  • a flurry of speculation
  • a flurry of interest

They will go down the mountain in a flurry of male embraces.

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Examples

  • As the meeting started, there was a brief flurry of questions from the attendees.

  • Almost immediately the story kicked up a flurry of activity around the area.

  • And there was a little bit of a flurry of news stories about it going on.

  • Physical, technological, and perhaps psychological reasons have led to a flurry of research on these materials.

    Academic text (1998)
  • The Mortier decision has set off a flurry of activity on federal and state levels.

    Academic text (1992)
  • And there's a huge flurry of interest from Silicon Valley.

  • Despite this flurry of generosity, Caesar's full debt to his soldiers had not yet been paid.

  • After hours of little action, we've witnessed a flurry of activity... on the 20th floor of the Chicago administration building.

  • Their hover dropped into the courtyard with a flurry of dust and squawking chickens.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • In 1865, rinderpest reappeared in England after many years, prompting a flurry of accusations about its source.

    Academic text (2013)

Synonyms

stir
vsflurry
80 4.2

A short time of excitement and activity

is more narrowly about sudden physical bursts like wind, snow, or action
4 3.6

A short busy time when many people do things quickly

is broader, used for sudden brief bursts in wind, snow, or activity
snow flurry
vsflurry
  • UK
1 3.4

A short, light fall of snow with brief gusts of wind

is broader, covering short sudden bursts in wind, snow, or activity
flurry of snowflakes
vsflurry
  • UK
2.7

A short, light fall of snow that starts suddenly

is more general, applying to sudden brief bursts beyond just snow

Antonyms

52 1.0

A quiet, peaceful feeling that helps you stay steady

28 4.6

A short quiet time when activity pauses

Compounds

A short busy time when many people do things quickly

1 3.4

A short, light fall of snow with brief gusts of wind

A sudden short time when many strong feelings happen at once

A short, light fall of snow that starts suddenly

How Intense

flood
75 2.4
surge
132 4.2
flurry
53 3.9
burst
57 3.5
spurt
14 3.2
to trickle
70 3.4

Surface Forms

flurry singular
flurries plural

Etymology

Flurry comes from old dialect words like flur- that meant 'to flutter' or 'to toss', giving the image of something small moving suddenly. So a flurry is a short, sudden burst of activity, wind, or snow.