# hustle

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈhʌsəl/ · frequency rank #11,232

## Definitions
1. To push someone roughly; to crowd; to jostle.
2. To rush or hurry.
3. To bundle; to stow something quickly.
4. To con, swindle, or deceive, especially financially.
5. To play deliberately badly at a game or sport in an attempt to encourage players to challenge one.
6. To obtain by illicit or forceful action.
7. To sell sex; to work as a pimp.
8. To be a prostitute; to exchange use of one's body for sexual purposes for money.
9. To serve (a clientele) as a prostitute.
10. To dance the hustle, a disco dance.
11. To work.
12. To put a lot of effort into one's work.

## Etymology
From Dutch husselen or by metathesis from Dutch hutselen (“to shake up”), a frequentative of hutsen (“to stir, to move something (back and forth)”).

## Easily confused with
- **hustler** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hustle-vs-hustler)
- **haste** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/haste-vs-hustle)
- **humble** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/humble-vs-hustle)
- **hassle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hassle-vs-hustle)
- **hurdle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hurdle-vs-hustle)
- **Hubble** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hubble-vs-hustle)
- **huddle** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huddle-vs-hustle)
- **hostile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hostile-vs-hustle)

## Common misspellings (9)
`hhustle`, `hsutle`, `huslte`, `husstle`, `hustel`, `hustlle`, `husttle`, `hutsle`, `uhstle`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/hustle