hustle
/ˈhʌs.əl/
Very CommonWorking aggressively to make money or achieve goals, often through side ventures or resourcefulness.
Can be purely positive (entrepreneurial spirit) or slightly negative (implying desperation or questionable methods). Context determines tone.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | She got three side hustles running. That girl never sleeps. | Someone is managing multiple income sources with impressive dedication. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 02 | Hustle culture is toxic. Not everyone needs a side gig. | Criticizing the pressure to always be working for extra income. | x, 2023 |
| 03 | Started reselling sneakers as a hustle and now it's my full-time income. | A side venture grew into a primary income source. | reddit, 2023 |
| 04 | Respect the hustle even if you don't agree with the method. | Acknowledging effort regardless of whether you approve of the approach. | instagram, 2024 |
Use it when
- Someone is making money through side projects or unconventional means.
- Describing an entrepreneurial or go-getter attitude.
- Acknowledging someone who works multiple income streams.
- Encouraging someone to be resourceful about making money.
Do not use it when
- Someone is doing steady salaried work with no side ventures.Use “grind” instead.
- You mean scamming or defrauding people.
- You are describing passive income with no effort.
Variations and related forms
Hustle vs grind
hustle
Hustle emphasizes resourcefulness, multiple angles, and money-making creativity.
VS
grind
Grind emphasizes consistency, repetition, and sustained effort over time.
Origin and context
From 1920s American English meaning to push or swindle. Evolved in hip-hop culture to mean working hard for money, especially outside traditional employment. Now mainstream internet vocabulary.
- First seen
- 1920s
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/hustleUpdated: 2026-08-25License: CC BY 4.0