hurling

American  

[hur-ling] / ˈhɜr lɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of throwing or casting, especially with great force or strength.

2. a traditionally Irish game played by two teams of 15 players each on a rectangular field 140 yards (128 meters) long, points being scored by hitting, pushing, carrying, or throwing the leather-covered ball between the goalposts at the opponent's end of the field with a wide-bladed stick resembling a hockey stick.

3. (in parts of Britain, especially Cornwall) a traditional, rural game in which two groups of players, using methods similar to those of football, vie for possession of a ball or other object and try to carry or hurl it into their own parish, village, farm, etc.

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hurling British  

/ ˈhɜːlɪŋ /

noun

1. a traditional Irish game resembling hockey and lacrosse, played with sticks and a ball between two teams of 15 players each

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Etymology

Origin of hurling

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at hurl, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Many businesses have closed, hurling more Iranians into unemployment.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

When hurling down the ball with a wobbling seam rather than looking to hoop it, some deliveries jag unpredictably off the surface after pitching.

From BBC • Jan. 1, 2026

The England midfielder's 57th-minute goal prompted Emery to roar in delight before ripping off his jacket and hurling it into the air.

From Barron's • Dec. 21, 2025

What they refrain from hurling in that moment, or at any point throughout “Welcome to Derry,” is a dehumanizing slur splashed all over the pages of the original “It.”

From Salon • Dec. 8, 2025

Four pairs of eyes in different parts of the sky all saw the brief movement, and at once four pairs of wings beat hard against the smoke-fouled air, hurling the watchers forward to the cloud.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

Related Words

• casting