Quick answer: A hurdle is an obstacle or barrier, either a real one to jump over in a race or a problem to overcome. To hurtle is to move at great speed, often forcefully or out of control.
In short, hurdle is about obstacles, and hurtle is about speed.
Hurdle vs Hurtle Quiz: Test Yourself
Hurdle vs Hurtle Flip Cards
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An obstacle or barrier.
“Funding was the biggest hurdle.”
To jump over an obstacle.
“She hurdled the fence.”
To move at high speed.
“The car hurtled down the hill.”
Hurtle has hurt inside it. Things that hurtle can hurt you.
Hurdle vs hurtle is a classic mix-up because the words look and sound almost identical, yet one is about obstacles and the other is about speed. A single letter, d or t, changes the whole meaning.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurdle | An obstacle or barrier, including a barrier jumped in a race | Noun | Passing the final exam was the last hurdle. |
| Hurdle | To jump over an obstacle | Verb | The runner hurdled the low fence. |
| Hurtle | To move at high speed, often forcefully or out of control | Verb | The truck hurtled down the hill. |
| Hurdler | An athlete who runs in hurdle races | Noun | The hurdler cleared every barrier. |
What does hurdle mean?
A hurdle is an obstacle or barrier. In track and field, it is the low barrier athletes jump over during a race. In everyday language, it is any difficulty you must overcome, such as a legal hurdle, a funding hurdle or a language hurdle.
Hurdle also works as a verb meaning to jump over something. A runner can hurdle a fence, and a company can figuratively hurdle a tough regulation. The noun and verb share one idea: something stands in the way.
What does hurtle mean?
To hurtle is to move at high speed, often with force or in a way that feels out of control. It is a verb only, and it usually pairs with a direction word such as down, toward, across or through.
Cars, trains, meteors and runaway shopping carts can all hurtle. The word carries a sense of speed and sometimes danger, which is why it appears in news stories about crashes and falling objects.
Hurdle vs hurtle: which one should you use?
Use hurdle when something blocks the way, and use hurtle when something rushes forward at speed. A quick test works well: is there an obstacle, or is there fast movement? An obstacle calls for hurdle, and fast movement calls for hurtle.
- Obstacle or barrier: hurdle.
- Jumping over something: hurdle (verb).
- Rushing at high speed: hurtle.
Do you hurdle or hurtle over a fence?
You hurdle over a fence, because you are jumping over an obstacle. You would hurtle toward the fence, along it or into it, because that describes fast movement. The same scene can use both words: a horse can hurtle toward a fence and then hurdle it.
Is “hutle” a real word?
No, “hutle” is a misspelling, most likely of hurtle. Both hurtle and hurdle keep the letter r before the t or d, so check that the r is still there. It may also be confused with hustle, a different real word that means to move or work quickly and energetically.
What are the most common hurdle vs hurtle mistakes?
✗ The car hurdled down the hill. ✓ The car hurtled down the hill.
✗ She hurtled the fence and kept running. ✓ She hurdled the fence and kept running.
✗ Finding funding was the biggest hurtle. ✓ Finding funding was the biggest hurdle.
✗ The train was hurdling toward the station. ✓ The train was hurtling toward the station.
✗ The runner cleared each hurtle in the race. ✓ The runner cleared each hurdle in the race.
How can you remember which one to use?
Attach each word to a small clue, and the choice becomes automatic.
- Hurtle has “hurt” inside. Something hurtling at high speed can hurt you.
- Hurdle ends in D for Difficulty. A hurdle is a difficulty in your path.
- Hurtle: T for Tearing along. If it is tearing along, it is hurtling.
Hurdle vs Hurtle FAQ
Is hutle a real word?
No. ‘Hutle’ is a misspelling, most likely of hurtle, which means to move at high speed. Both hurtle and hurdle keep the letter r before the t or d.
What is the difference between hurdle and hurtle?
A hurdle is an obstacle or barrier, while hurtle is a verb meaning to move at high speed.
Can hurdle be a verb?
Yes. To hurdle means to jump over an obstacle, as in ‘She hurdled the fence.’
Can hurtle mean to jump?
No. Hurtle describes fast, forceful movement. If you jump over something, the word you want is hurdle.
What are the past tenses of hurdle and hurtle?
Hurdle becomes hurdled, and hurtle becomes hurtled. Use hurdling for jumping over obstacles and hurtling for fast movement.
Conclusion
The hurdle vs hurtle question comes down to obstacles versus speed: a hurdle blocks the way, and hurtle means rushing forward fast. Keep the clue “hurtle has hurt inside” in mind and you will pick the right word. Share this with someone who mixes these up!