significant hurdle

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significant hurdle" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a major obstacle or challenge that must be overcome in a particular situation or process. Example: "The team faced a significant hurdle in securing funding for the project, which delayed their timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

One significant hurdle is lowering the cost for mass production of fuel-cell vehicles.

The New York Times

In many places where growth has outstripped supplies, that is becoming a significant hurdle.

The New York Times

Here the continued obstacles to doing business are a much more significant hurdle.

The New York Times

Of course, business school can also be a significant hurdle for passionate founders.

The New York Times

The resistance in Slovakia is the most significant hurdle standing in the way of the deal.

The New York Times

"But you will have to overcome a significant hurdle in going down that route".

The New York Times

Raising funds to finance projects with a novel technology will therefore be a significant hurdle for Trident.

The Guardian

A dispute among plaintiffs has been a significant hurdle to settlement talks, people close to the discussions said.

The New York Times

The lifting of the ban removes another significant hurdle for WorldCom, which plans to change its name to MCI.

The New York Times

One significant hurdle, however, will be making sure that the various translations of the future constitution jibe.

The New York Times

The minefields of the Shamali plains, which lie north of Kabul, are perhaps the most significant hurdle.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "significant hurdle", ensure the context clearly defines what makes the hurdle significant and why it needs to be overcome. Providing specific details will enhance clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "significant hurdle" for minor inconveniences. Reserve this phrase for challenges that genuinely pose a substantial risk to progress or success.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant hurdle" functions as a noun phrase, acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It identifies a major obstacle or challenge that needs to be overcome. Ludwig provides numerous examples showing its versatile use in describing various difficulties.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "significant hurdle" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a major obstacle or challenge. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used in news, science, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, be sure that the obstacle you are describing truly warrants the term "significant", and provide context to clarify its importance. Alternatives like "major impediment" or "formidable challenge" can provide similar meaning while adding variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major impediment

Replaces "hurdle" with "impediment", emphasizing the obstructive nature of the challenge. "Major" keeps the same degree of relevance.

considerable obstacle

Substitutes "significant" with "considerable" and "hurdle" with "obstacle", maintaining the sense of a large challenge.

substantial barrier

Replaces "significant" with "substantial" and "hurdle" with "barrier", highlighting the restrictive nature of the difficulty.

formidable challenge

Uses "formidable" to describe the challenge, implying it is difficult to overcome. Replaces "significant hurdle" with this stronger expression.

notable difficulty

Emphasizes the prominence of the difficulty, using "notable" instead of "significant" and "difficulty" in place of "hurdle".

major stumbling block

Replaces "significant hurdle" with the idiomatic expression "stumbling block", indicating something that causes one to hesitate or fail.

serious challenge

Replaces "significant" with "serious", underscoring the gravity of the difficulty.

key obstacle

Highlights the importance of the obstacle, suggesting it is a central issue to be addressed. Replaces "significant" with "key".

primary challenge

Focuses on the main difficulty, using "primary" instead of "significant", indicating it is the most important challenge.

principal impediment

Emphasizes the foremost obstruction, substituting "significant" with "principal" and "hurdle" with "impediment".

FAQs

What does "significant hurdle" mean?

A "significant hurdle" is a major obstacle or challenge that needs to be overcome to achieve a goal. It implies that the obstacle is not easily surmountable and requires considerable effort to address.

How can I use "significant hurdle" in a sentence?

You might say, "Securing funding proved to be a "significant hurdle" for the project" or "Language barriers can be a "significant hurdle" for immigrants adapting to a new country".

What are some alternatives to "significant hurdle"?

Alternatives include "major obstacle", "formidable challenge", or "substantial barrier". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "significant challenge" or "significant hurdle"?

Both "significant challenge" and "significant hurdle" are correct and usable. "Hurdle" implies something that must be actively jumped over, while "challenge" is a more general term for a difficult task.