hurdle

1 of 2

noun

hur·​dle ˈhər-dᵊl How to pronounce hurdle (audio)
1
a
: a portable panel usually of wattled withes and stakes used especially for enclosing land or livestock
b
: a frame or sled formerly used in England for dragging traitors to execution
2
a
: an artificial barrier over which racers must leap
knocked over a hurdle
b
hurdles plural, track and field : any of various events in which racers must jump over a series of hurdles
won a medal in the high hurdles
The hurdles is his best event.
3
: barrier, obstacle
a company that faces severe financial hurdles
overcame many hurdles on her way to earning her degree

Illustration of hurdle

Illustration of hurdle
  • hurdle 2a

hurdle

2 of 2

verb

hurdled; hurdling ˈhərd-liŋ How to pronounce hurdle (audio)
ˈhər-dᵊl-iŋ

transitive verb

1
: to leap over especially while running (as in a sporting competition)
hurdling an obstacle in a steeplechase
2
: overcome, surmount
had to hurdle a series of competitive auditionsCollier's
hurdler
ˈhərd-lər How to pronounce hurdle (audio)
ˈhər-dᵊl-ər
noun

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Hurdle vs. Hurtle

Indistinguishable in speech, the words hurtle and hurdle can be a confusing pair.

Hurtle is a verb with two meanings: "to move rapidly or forcefully," as in "The stone was hurtling through the air," and "to hurl or fling," as in "I hurtled the stone into the air." Note that the first use is intransitive: the stone isn't hurtling anything; it itself is simply hurtling. The second use is transitive: something was hurtled—in this case, a stone.

Hurdle is both a noun and a verb. As a noun, its most common meanings have to do with barriers: the ones that runners leap over, and the metaphorical extension of these, the figurative barriers and obstacles we try to similarly overcome. The verb hurdle has two meanings, and they are directly related to these. It can mean "to leap over especially while running," as in "She hurdled the fence," and it can mean "to overcome or surmount," as in "They've had to hurdle significant financial obstacles." The verb hurdle is always transitive; that is, there's always a thing being hurdled, whether it be a physical obstacle or a metaphorical one.

Examples of hurdle in a Sentence

Noun He won a medal in the high hurdles. The company faces severe financial hurdles this year. Verb The horse hurdled the fence.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
In addition to costs and issues that might arise on your property once construction begins (site and utility work alone added an extra $50,000 onto one couple’s $300,000 ADU), another major hurdle is winning over your nervous neighbors. Kevinisha Walker, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Take, for instance, the YIMBY mantra of allowing taller buildings and reducing the permitting hurdles to build them. Conor Dougherty, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 One other hurdle in the process could be the lawsuit filed by a Political Action Committee of the Nevada teacher’s union challenging whether the state legislature can constitutionally approve the $380 million in public funds for the stadium. Kirk Kern, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 The financial hurdles, though significant, pale in comparison to the immense technological challenges these companies face. George Dvorsky / Gizmodo, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024 Put more simply: Trump has checkmated Murdoch, clearing one more hurdle standing in his way on the path to the White House. Oliver Darcy, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 He’s had so many hurdles and roadblocks, and he’s just faltered. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 2 Mar. 2024 Removing emotional hurdles to gain visibility In our perceptions of fair workplaces, hard work is rewarded – regardless of gender. European School Of Management and Technology - Berlin, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Getting approval from the Hungarian parliament was the final hurdle for Sweden to joining NATO. Rob Schmitz, NPR, 26 Feb. 2024
Verb
Cruz bites into the role with a visceral ferocity — her grief, her cunning, her intelligence, her jealousy, and her desire hurdling out of her with the volume turned all the way up. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 22 Dec. 2023 To frame him solely as a rebounder, though, would shortchange a more complete player who vice-gripped the program’s scoring title until Brandon Heath hurdled him 27 years later. Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Jan. 2024 South Korean content continues to successfully hurdle the language barrier, with K-dramas consistently proving their stateside appeal. TIME, 6 Feb. 2024 With an anti-corruption candidate’s win, celebrations are tempered by uncertainty over what hurdles to democracy could emerge next. Sandra Cuffe, The Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2023 Martin hurdled one defender before getting waylaid. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2023 Here's why More: Pelosi disputes calls for Sen. Feinstein to resign But such a move requires 60 votes to hurdle a filibuster which means at least 10 Republican senators would have to agree. Phillip M. Bailey, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2023 Since then, the closure has at times created standstill congestion around Logan International Airport and hurdled rush hour commutes from East Boston and parts north into downtown Boston. Daniel Kool, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Aug. 2023 Reporter Chelsea Hylton talked to several reporters on those projects who are still working at The Times and got some amazing anecdotes about how many hurdles the black and brown journalists had to overcome to even get a single story published. Angel Rodriguez, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hurdle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English hurdel, from Old English hyrdel; akin to Old High German hurt hurdle, Latin cratis wickerwork, hurdle

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hurdle was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near hurdle

Cite this Entry

“Hurdle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hurdle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hurdle

1 of 2 noun
hur·​dle ˈhərd-ᵊl How to pronounce hurdle (audio)
1
: a movable panel used as a fence
2
a
: a barrier to be jumped in a race
b
: a race in which such barriers must be jumped
3

hurdle

2 of 2 verb
hurdled; hurdling ˈhərd-liŋ How to pronounce hurdle (audio)
-ᵊl-iŋ
1
: to leap over while running
the horse hurdled the fence
2
hurdler
ˈhərd-lər How to pronounce hurdle (audio)
-ᵊl-ər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on hurdle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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