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Hurtle Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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hurtle

hur-tle

🇺🇸 /ˈhɝtəɫ/ · 🇬🇧 /hˈɜːtəl/

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

in a fast motion

To move or cause to move at high speed, typically in an uncontrolled manner.

Synonyms

fly, shoot, speed, zoom.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
hurtle

Used to describe something moving very quickly, often in an uncontrollable or dangerous manner.

  • The car hurtled down the highway at breakneck speed
  • The meteor hurtled towards Earth
speed

Used to describe moving quickly, often in a controlled or deliberate manner.

  • The car sped down the road
  • He sped through his homework so he could play outside
shoot

Typically used to describe a projectile moving quickly through the air. It can also describe someone or something moving quickly in another context. Has a more sudden connotation.

  • The arrow shot through the air
  • She shot out of the room when she heard the news
fly

Commonly used to describe the action of something moving through the air. It can also be used metaphorically to describe moving quickly.

  • The bird flew across the sky
  • Time flies when you're having fun
zoom

Informally used to describe moving quickly, often making a humming or buzzing sound. Can be used for real and figurative movement.

  • The motorcycle zoomed past us
  • My mind was zooming with ideas

Examples of usage

  • The car hurtled down the road at breakneck speed.
  • The train hurtled through the tunnel.
Context #2 | Noun

fast movement

A fast and uncontrollable movement.

Synonyms

charge, dash, rush, sprint.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
hurtle

This word is best used when describing something moving rapidly and uncontrollably, often with a sense of danger or impending collision.

  • The car hurtled down the highway, narrowly avoiding parked vehicles
  • A rock hurtled past us as we climbed the mountain
rush

Best used for situations where there is a sense of urgency or haste, often involving being late or needing to hurry.

  • I rushed to finish my homework before the deadline
  • The nurse rushed to the patient's bedside
dash

This is suitable for describing a sudden and quick movement, frequently used in everyday situations.

  • She dashed out of the house to catch the bus
  • He made a quick dash to the store before it closed
sprint

Ideal for describing a short, fast run, typically in sports or physical activities.

  • He sprinted towards the finish line to win the race
  • We sprinted to catch the last train home
charge

Use this word when describing a fast and often aggressive movement towards something, commonly in the context of battles or competitions.

  • The soldiers charged at the enemy lines with fierce determination
  • The bull charged at the matador during the bullfight

Examples of usage

  • The hurtle of the rollercoaster was thrilling.
  • I could hear the hurtle of the approaching train.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Quick facts about “hurtle”

Hurtle is a 2-syllable verb and noun (hur-tle). It is pronounced /ˈhɝtəɫ/ in American English and /hˈɜːtəl/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 2 meanings, 8 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #36,876 among the most common English words.

Did you know?

“hurtle” in literature

  • Authors often use 'hurtle' to create a sense of urgency in action scenes, enhancing the reader’s excitement.
  • The word appeared in classic literature, such as works by Charles Dickens, to describe chaotic movements.
  • In poetry, 'hurtle' conveys emotional intensity, symbolizing the uncontrollable aspects of life.

“hurtle” in physics

  • In physics, something that hurtles can be analyzed in terms of momentum, indicating how mass and velocity interact.
  • Objects that hurtle toward Earth due to gravity accelerate, which is a fundamental concept in motion studies.
  • The concept relates to real-life phenomena, like meteors hurtling through space before entering Earth’s atmosphere.

“hurtle” in pop culture

  • Action movies often depict cars and heroes hurtling through the air, creating thrilling visuals and excitement.
  • Video games feature levels where players must avoid hurtling obstacles to succeed.
  • The word is frequently used in sports commentary to describe athletes’ fast movements on the field.

“hurtle” in psychology

  • Fast-paced situations can increase adrenaline, making the feeling of hurtling connect to our fight-or-flight responses.
  • The term can describe not just physical speed, but also mental processes when overwhelmed with thoughts.
  • Understanding how we perceive speed can change our responses during stressful or fast-paced events.

Origin of 'hurtle'

Main points about word origin

  • 'Hurtle' comes from the Middle English word 'hurtlen', meaning to tumble or fall quickly.
  • The word has roots in the Old English 'hyrtlan', which means to rush or to charge.
  • Its evolution reflects the idea of reckless or fast movement over time.

The word 'hurtle' originates from the Middle English word 'hurtlen', which means to collide or dash. Over time, the meaning evolved to include the sense of fast and uncontrolled movement. The word has been used in English literature since the 14th century, often to describe the swift and intense motion of objects or individuals. Today, 'hurtle' is commonly used to convey the idea of rapid and energetic movement.

See also: hurt, hurtful, hurting, unhurt.

Rhymes

Hurtle rhymes with myrtle, fertile, turtle, infertile, birtle, ertel, ertl and ertle.

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Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,876, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.