hurl

American  

[hurl] / hɜrl /

verb (used with object)

1. to throw or fling with great force or vigor.

   Synonyms:

   pitch , cast

2. to throw or cast down.

3. to utter with vehemence.

   to hurl insults at the umpire.

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verb (used without object)

1. to throw a missile.

2. Baseball.  to pitch a ball.

noun

1. a forcible or violent throw; fling.

hurl British  

/ hɜːl /

verb

1. (tr) to throw or propel with great force

2. (tr) to utter with force; yell

   to hurl insults

3. to transport or be transported in a driven vehicle

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noun

1. the act or an instance of hurling

2. a ride in a driven vehicle

Other Word Forms

• hurler noun
• outhurl verb (used with object)
• unhurled adjective

Etymology

Origin of hurl

1175–1225; Middle English hurlen, equivalent to hur- (perhaps akin to hurry ) + -len -le; akin to Low German hurreln to toss, Frisian hurreln to roar (said of the wind), dialectal German hurlen to roll, rumble (said of thunder)

Example Sentences

Whether or not the unidentified whistle blower has an ax to grind is unknown to me, but plainly the email is not a list of wild accusations hurled by an unreliable gadfly.

From Los Angeles Times

She hurled her golf ball into the grandstand, wiped away tears and was hugged by her husband, David Esch.

From Los Angeles Times

Among the most dramatic findings were the towering geysers on the icy moon Enceladus that hurled debris into space and produced a faint sub-ring around the planet.

From Science Daily

Although we rarely notice from Earth, the Sun is continuously hurling enormous clouds of charged plasma into space.

From Science Daily

In one motion, Dent spun around and hurled a bounce pass between two defenders as if throwing a baseball, hitting Freeny in stride for a layup.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fire
• fling
• heave
• lob
• sling