hurtle

USAGE SUMMARY

"hurtle" is a valid word in written English.
It is an intransitive verb meaning to move or proceed rapidly. Example sentence: The car hurtled down the street, its tires squealing against the pavement.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His first boundary broke a spell of almost 22 overs without one, and he was later to hurtle from 79 to his maiden ODI ton in just six deliveries.

The Guardian - Sport

Felix Baumgartner is to jump from the largest helium-filled balloon ever built for manned flight and hurtle towards the Earth from near the edge of space, 23 miles up.

The Guardian

Ford could yet hurtle over the edge.

The Economist

While others in his class were deciding between multiple job offers, Ricardo Taveira, an MBA student at Chicago's Booth School, was playing a game of brinkmanship  IN THE film "Rebel Without a Cause", James Dean (pictured) plays a game called "chickie run", in which two car drivers hurtle towards a cliff edge.

The Economist

Trucks now hurtle cattle across the country; some heifers for the Amarillo auction come from as far away as Tennessee.

The Economist

Business travellers may sleep in driverless Winnebagos that hurtle down the motorways at night, delivering them to the next morning's meeting.Electronic guardian angelsMost important of all, the driverless car will drastically reduce the carnage of road accidents and the colossal medical costs associated with them.

The Economist

With luck, such dangers will turn out to be like the Olympic-pool-sized asteroid that will hurtle close to Earth on February 15th 2013: near misses, which might help to concentrate minds.The trouble is that the minds of the world's politicians will be preoccupied at home.

The Economist

Six-sigma "black belts" hurtle about Wipro's 100-acre technology campus in Bangalore, improving everything from software coding to the way the company cleans its toilets.

The Economist

But not in the rush hour when a packed platform all too often waits in vain for a District line train, while Piccadilly trains hurtle past.

The Economist

Watching the trains hurtle across the flat, scrubby terrain is awe-inspiring.

The Economist

America's bosses hurtle importantly about in powerful Mercedes, Ferraris and BMWs.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hurtle" when you want to convey a sense of speed combined with a lack of control or impending impact. It's more dramatic than simply saying something is moving fast.

Common error

Avoid using "hurtle" to describe slow or graceful movements. "Hurtle" implies speed and force, so it's inappropriate for describing something like a leaf falling gently.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hurtle" is as an intransitive verb, describing the action of moving rapidly and often violently. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in this manner, as evidenced by numerous examples in news and media.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "hurtle" functions as a verb signifying rapid and forceful movement, often implying a lack of control. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is most frequently encountered in news and media contexts. While grammatically straightforward, it's important to use "hurtle" to describe slow or graceful movements. Remember that synonyms like "rush" or "speed" might be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

speed rapidly

Replaces the implied force or violence with a focus solely on speed.

rush headlong

Emphasizes a lack of caution or planning in the rapid movement.

plunge forward

Suggests a sudden and uncontrolled movement in a forward direction.

career wildly

Highlights the erratic and uncontrolled nature of the movement.

charge ahead

Implies a forceful and determined advancement.

dash rapidly

Focuses on quickness and agility in the movement.

shoot forward

Suggests a very fast, linear movement, like a projectile.

bolt swiftly

Implies a sudden and rapid escape or departure.

catapult oneself

Suggests being launched with great force, similar to a catapult.

fling oneself

Emphasizes the forceful and somewhat reckless nature of the movement.

FAQs

How to use "hurtle" in a sentence?

"Hurtle" is used to describe something moving rapidly and often uncontrollably. For example, "The car "hurtled" down the hill" or "Debris "hurtled" through the air after the explosion."

What can I say instead of "hurtle"?

You can use alternatives like "speed", "rush", or "plunge" depending on the context. Each alternative conveys a slightly different nuance of rapid movement.

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

"Hurtle" means to move rapidly or violently, while "hurdle" refers to an obstacle or to jump over an obstacle. They are distinct words with different meanings and spellings.

What is the difference between "hurtle" and "dash"?

"Hurtle" often implies a lack of control and a sense of danger or force, while "dash" suggests a quick, light movement, often with a specific purpose. "Hurtle" is more dramatic and intense.