hurtle

[ hur-tl ]

verb (used without object)

, hur·tled, hur·tling.

1. to rush violently; move with great speed:

   The car hurtled down the highway.

   Synonyms: shoot, rush, race, fly, speed

2. to move or go noisily or resoundingly, as with violent or rapid motion:

   The sound was deafening, as tons of snow hurtled down the mountain.

3. Archaic. to strike together or against something; collide.

verb (used with object)

, hur·tled, hur·tling.

1. to drive violently; fling; dash.
2. Archaic. to dash against; collide with.

noun

1. Archaic. clash; collision; shock; clatter.

hurtle

/ ˈhɜːtəl /

verb

1. to project or be projected very quickly, noisily, or violently
2. rare.
   intr to collide or crash

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurtle¹

1175–1225; Middle English hurtle, equivalent to hurt ( en ) ( hurt ) + -le -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of hurtle¹

C13 hurtlen, from hurten to strike; see hurt ¹

Example Sentences

As we hurtle towards Mariah Carey's most lucrative holiday, families all over the UK will be pressing play on Christmas films such as Love Actually to get themselves into the festive spirit.

From BBC

Badenoch waited until the last few days for a media blitz, but was also hurtling around the country meeting as many party members as possible.

From BBC

And his career has moved as fast as a bobsleigh hurtling down a track at 95mph.

From BBC

A rare comet has been snapped hurtling through the night skies over part of the West Midlands.

From BBC

As the conflict has spread and metastasised, its origins have faded from view, like the scene of a car crash receding in the rear view mirror of a juggernaut hurtling towards even bigger disasters.

From BBC

Related Words

• collide
• lunge
• scoot