hurdle
Americannoun
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a portable barrier over which contestants must leap in certain running races, usually a wooden frame with a hinged inner frame that swings down under impact to prevent injury to a runner who does not clear it.
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(used with a singular verb) hurdles, a race in which contestants must leap over a number of such barriers placed at specific intervals around the track.
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any of various vertical barriers, as a hedge, low wall, or section of fence, over which horses must jump in certain types of turf races, as a steeplechase, but especially an artificial barrier.
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a difficult problem to be overcome; obstacle.
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Chiefly British. a movable rectangular frame of interlaced twigs, crossed bars, or the like, as for a temporary fence.
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a frame or sled on which criminals, especially traitors, were formerly drawn to the place of execution.
verb (used with object)
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to leap over (a hurdle, barrier, fence, etc.), as in a race.
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to master (a difficulty, problem, etc.); overcome.
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to construct with hurdles; enclose with hurdles.
verb (used without object)
noun
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athletics one of a number of light barriers over which runners leap in certain events
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a low barrier used in certain horse races
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an obstacle to be overcome
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a light framework of interlaced osiers, wattle, etc, used as a temporary fence
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a sledge on which criminals were dragged to their executions
verb
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to jump (a hurdle, etc), as in racing
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(tr) to surround with hurdles
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(tr) to overcome
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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hurdlesimple
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hurdlessimple
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have hurdledperfect
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has hurdledperfect
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am hurdlingprogressive
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are hurdlingprogressive
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is hurdlingprogressive
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have been hurdlingperfect progressive
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has been hurdlingperfect progressive
Past
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hurdledsimple
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had hurdledperfect
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was hurdlingprogressive
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were hurdlingprogressive
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had been hurdlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of hurdle
before 900; Middle English hirdel, hurdel (noun), Old English hyrdel, equivalent to hyrd- + -el noun suffix; compare German Hürde hurdle; akin to Latin crātis hurdle, wickerwork, Greek kýrtos basket, cage, Sanskrit kṛt spin
Explanation
A hurdle is a barrier or other obstacle that a runner has to jump over during a race. If you trip on a hurdle, you probably won't win the race. When they're doing certain types of races, both human and horse athletes have to leap across hurdles (sometimes other animals do this too, like dogs and even rabbits). To do this is also to hurdle. There are physical hurdles, and then there are their figurative counterparts — those difficulties or hurdles that prevent you from progressing in your life.
Vocabulary lists containing hurdle
Vocabulary of the Summer Olympics
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This Feb. 29: 15 Words for "Leap"
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Might As Well Jump: Words For Leap Year
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Even going to play in Europe won’t make most players wealthier than an NBA player, a hurdle the U.S. simply will have to accept.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 12, 2026
Saglimbene noted that analysts usually lower their estimates during a quarter, giving companies a lower hurdle to clear.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
With the approval, a major hurdle has been cleared, she says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
Henderson, 36, landed awkwardly on his arm as he tried to hurdle the advertising hoardings during England's celebrations, and was taken from the field on a stretcher.
From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026
I probably have my best start, getting out of the blocks fast and clean, and I don’t clip a single hurdle.
From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée
Immigrants who have ever been in the country illegally—or who have had gaps between visas—could face particular hurdles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
Despite reliable attendance and rising team valuations, the league faces structural and financial hurdles that keep it stuck behind other U.S. sports.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 11, 2026
More crucial than knowing how to use AI tools is listening to what hurdles your company is facing, said James Lewis, president and co-founder of the National Society of High School Scholars.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026
Australia lays claim to around 28 percent of the world's uranium resource, but legal hurdles and political sensitivities have hindered exports to India.
From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026
It’s down to two varsity girl high jumpers—Fiona and a Langston jumper named Yassi—when the hurdles are set up again for the 300-meter race.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
Mr. Walesa is now 82 and stouter than he was when he hurdled that fence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 13, 2026
Daniel was tapped to run consumer products, and five months later, he hurdled over more experienced executives to lead a massive new and controversial business unit.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 2, 2022
He hurdled a USC cornerback en route to one touchdown and then signed a hat for a 12-year-old USC fan after scoring another.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 16, 2022
Joel Allen, who was at Arrowhead Stadium for the game, said it was the first time his son hurdled a defender and kept running, as opposed to losing his footing and falling to the turf.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2022
She hurdled the low wall and took off running.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Copper’s technical position is similar to where gold was in March 2024, when it broke out decisively from its 13-year base by hurdling $2,200.
From Barron's ● Dec. 26, 2025
Wales also had a late Taulupe Faletau try disallowed for Murray illegally hurdling a tackle in the build-up, a decision Sherratt described as "correct".
From BBC ● Mar. 8, 2025
Just seven months ago, the hurdler with the fastest time in the world this season wasn’t even hurdling at all.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 7, 2023
Hendon Hooker is fluid on the football field and mobile in NFL meeting rooms, where he’s been hurdling concerns about his age, health and playing style.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 14, 2023
They had reached the end of a hurdling sprint, too.
From "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
