Hurdle vs. Hurtle — What's the Difference?

An obstacle used in racing events.

Can apply to both animate and inanimate objects.

Often used to signify challenges to overcome.

Lacks a metaphorical usage; mainly literal.

Adjusted for various skill levels in competitions.

To move at a great speed, especially in a careless way.

Requires technique and practice to navigate.

Often used to describe uncontrolled actions.

Represents both literal and metaphorical obstacles.

Rarely used in a positive context.

A hurdle (UK English, limited US English) is a moveable section of light fence. In the United States, terms such as "panel", "pipe panel" or simply "fence section" are used to describe moveable sections of fencing intended for agricultural use and crowd control; "hurdle" refers primarily to fences used as jumping obstacles for steeplechasing with horses or human track and field competition.

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

One of a series of upright frames over which athletes in a race must jump

To move with or as if with great speed

A problem or difficulty that must be overcome

To fling with great force; hurl.

A portable rectangular frame strengthened with withies or wooden bars, used as a temporary fence.

(intransitive) To move rapidly, violently, or without control.

Take part in a hurdle race

To meet with violence or shock; to clash; to jostle.

Enclose or fence off with hurdles

To make a threatening sound, like the clash of arms; to make a sound as of confused clashing or confusion; to resound.

A light portable barrier over which competitors must leap in certain races.

(transitive) To hurl or fling; to throw hard or violently.

Hurdles A race in which a series of such barriers must be jumped without the competitors' breaking their stride.

To push; to jostle; to hurl.

A leaping step made off one foot as means of maximizing spring at the end of an approach, as to a dive.

A fast movement in literal or figurative sense.

An obstacle or difficulty to be overcome

A clattering sound.

Chiefly British A portable framework made of intertwined branches or wattle and used for temporary fencing.

To meet with violence or shock; to clash; to jostle.

Chiefly British A frame or sledge on which condemned persons were dragged to execution.

To move rapidly; to wheel or rush suddenly or with violence; to whirl round rapidly; to skirmish.

To leap over (a barrier) in or as if in a race.

To move with violence or impetuosity; to whirl; to brandish.

To overcome or deal with successfully; surmount

To push; to jostle; to hurl.

To leap over a barrier or other obstacle.

Move with or as if with a rushing sound;

An artificial barrier, variously constructed, over which athletes or horses jump in a race.

Make a thrusting forward movement

(figuratively) An obstacle, real or perceived, physical or abstract.

Throw forcefully

A movable frame of wattled twigs, osiers, or withes and stakes, or sometimes of iron, used for enclosing land, for folding sheep and cattle, for gates, etc.; also, in fortification, used as revetments, and for other purposes.

A sled or crate on which criminals were formerly drawn to the place of execution.

To jump over something while running.

To compete in the track and field events of hurdles (e.g. high hurdles).

To overcome an obstacle.

To hedge, cover, make, or enclose with hurdles.

(T-flapping) hurtle

A movable frame of wattled twigs, osiers, or withes and stakes, or sometimes of iron, used for inclosing land, for folding sheep and cattle, for gates, etc.; also, in fortification, used as revetments, and for other purposes.

In England, a sled or crate on which criminals were formerly drawn to the place of execution.

An artificial barrier, variously constructed, over which men or horses leap in a race.

To hedge, cover, make, or inclose with hurdles.

A light movable barrier that competitors must leap over in certain races

An obstacle that you are expected to overcome;

The act of jumping over an obstacle

Jump a hurdle

Yes, 'hurdle' is often used metaphorically to describe any challenge or obstacle that needs to be overcome.

Hurling often implies a risk due to the speed and lack of control, but it isn’t always necessarily dangerous.

Clearing hurdles successfully requires agility, coordination, speed, and proper technique.

Yes, in business, hurdles can refer to any obstacles or challenges that need to be overcome for success.

Athletes train for hurdling by practicing their jumping technique, timing, and speed, often under the guidance of a coach.

Safe practice of hurdling involves proper warm-ups, technique training, and sometimes using modified or lower hurdles for beginners.

In track and field, a hurdle is an obstacle that runners jump over during hurdle races.

Typically, 'hurtle' describes rapid and potentially reckless movement, which is usually not seen as positive.

To hurtle means to move very quickly and often in an uncontrolled manner.

Hurdles can be adjusted in height and distance between them based on the competition level and age of the participants.

'Hurdle' is versatile and can be used in both professional and informal settings, especially when discussing challenges.

Yes, 'hurtle' can be used to describe fast-moving objects in scientific contexts, such as in space or physics discussions.

'Hurtle' is commonly used to describe something moving swiftly and uncontrollably, like a vehicle or person in motion.

Yes, animals and natural forces like wind or water can also be described as hurtling, especially when moving rapidly.

Common personal development hurdles include fear of failure, lack of confidence, and limited resources.