hurdle

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "hurdle" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe any obstacle or difficulty that needs to be overcome. For example: "The students had many hurdles to overcome before graduating from college."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The 10% hurdle, dating from the military-authored constitution of 1980, had been intended in part to diminish Kurdish representation in the parliament.

The Guardian

The challenge for the youngsters, and the hurdle Australian tennis has been falling at, will be in translating success in the juniors to the senior ranks, according to Mal Anderson, who won the US championship in 1957.

The Guardian - Sport

Nothing less than a win against the Czech Republic will do for them, else they'll be exiting their own tournament at the first hurdle and while we make every attempt to maintain neutrality in these parts, it would be a dreadful shame if a side that has played some cracking football in their first two games leaves us now.

The Guardian - Sport

Lucian Cook of property firm Savills says the £12,000 limit on savings should prevent a surge in house prices and means the scheme is "more likely to help get buyers over the deposit hurdle in the lower-value, lower-growth markets of the Midlands and the north than say London and the south-east, where significant constraints remain".

The Guardian - Money

With too little in the public domain, it is not surprising that many cases fall at the first hurdle for being "frivolous or vexatious".

The Guardian

One hurdle is to get a bill legislating for a referendum through parliament.

The Guardian - Opinion

It would be amazing if Nyong'o cleared that hurdle and went on to have a Meryl Streepesque career that goes from strength to strength.

The Guardian - Film

But beyond the practicality of missing documents, their greatest hurdle is the perception that what is born in a slum is destined to stay in a slum.

The Guardian

Shortly after, the Senate voted 77 to 17 to proceed to debate on the USA Freedom Act – a procedural hurdle that fell three votes short during another special session focused on surveillance reform nine days earlier.

The Guardian

Meanwhile in the States, says Day, "you can get bogged down with procedural hurdle after procedural hurdle".

The Guardian

Though Forfar have come agonisingly close to causing an upset against Rangers in the past, he points out: 'There is a bigger gap between the two teams now than when we played them before.' Celtic, who face a rather tougher looking Scottish Cup hurdle at Aberdeen tomorrow, are sweating on the fitness of Henrik Larsson, whose training has been curtailed because of a hamstring injury.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hurdle" when you want to emphasize the act of overcoming a specific obstacle, rather than just acknowledging a general difficulty.

Common error

Avoid using "hurdle" as a generic term for any problem. "Hurdle" implies an obstacle that can be directly addressed and overcome with effort, unlike more amorphous difficulties.

Linguistic Context

The word "hurdle" functions primarily as a noun, referring to a barrier, either literal in sports or figurative as an obstacle to overcome. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its usage in contexts ranging from political challenges to personal achievements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "hurdle" is a versatile term used to describe a barrier or obstacle, both literally and figuratively. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various contexts, including news, sports, and business. To ensure clarity and precision, it's best to use "hurdle" when referring to specific challenges that require active effort to overcome, rather than general difficulties. While synonyms like "obstacle" and "impediment" exist, "hurdle" emphasizes the act of actively clearing or overcoming a specific barrier. Be mindful of the connotations when choosing the right word.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obstacle

Replaces "hurdle" with a more general term for something that blocks progress.

impediment

Similar to "hurdle" but suggests a more significant obstruction.

barrier

A more direct synonym for a physical or metaphorical obstruction.

challenge

Shifts the focus to the difficulty of a task rather than the obstruction itself.

difficulty

A broad term for something that makes progress harder.

setback

Implies a temporary delay or reversal in progress.

stumbling block

Suggests a specific issue that causes one to hesitate or fail.

roadblock

A more forceful term implying a complete halt to progress.

drawback

Highlights a negative aspect that hinders success.

complication

Focuses on an element that makes things more complex and difficult.

FAQs

How can I use "hurdle" in a sentence?

You can use "hurdle" to describe overcoming a specific obstacle. For example, "The company cleared a major "regulatory hurdle"." Or, "The athlete successfully jumped the "final hurdle"."

What can I say instead of "hurdle"?

You can use alternatives like "obstacle", "impediment", or "challenge" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "hurdle" or "obstacle"?

"Hurdle" and "obstacle" are both correct, but "hurdle" often implies something that needs to be actively jumped over or overcome in a more dynamic way than a general "obstacle".

What's the difference between "hurdle" and "stumbling block"?

A "hurdle" is typically something that can be overcome with effort, while a "stumbling block" suggests something that causes hesitation or failure, often unexpectedly.