Definition

1. Verb:
   • To move or cause to move at a very high speed, often in a way that seems uncontrolled, reckless, or noisy.
   • To throw or fling something with great force.

Usage

The verb "hurtle" is used to describe rapid, forceful, and often noisy movement. It typically implies a lack of control or a sense of impending collision. It can be used both transitively (with a direct object) and intransitively (without a direct object).

Examples

• Intransitive use (no direct object):

  • The car hurtled down the hill. (The car moved very quickly and uncontrollably down the hill.)
  • Asteroids hurtle through space. (Asteroids move at extremely high speeds through space.)
  • The train hurtled past the station. (The train rushed by the station with great speed and noise.)

• Transitive use (with a direct object):

  • He hurtled the javelin with all his strength. (He threw the javelin with great force.)
  • The explosion hurtled debris across the street. (The explosion flung pieces of wreckage forcefully across the street.)

Advanced Usage

• "Hurtle toward/into/through": These prepositions are commonly used with "hurtle" to indicate the direction or path of the rapid movement.
  • The economy is hurtling toward a recession. (The economy is moving rapidly and seemingly uncontrollably into a bad situation.)
  • She hurtled through the crowd to catch her flight. (She moved very quickly and forcefully through the mass of people.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hurtling (present participle / gerund / adjective): The act of moving at high speed or the state of doing so.
  • The hurtling spacecraft was a magnificent sight.
• Hurtled (simple past and past participle).

Synonyms

• Speed: To move quickly.
• Race: To move or progress swiftly.
• Rush: To move with urgent haste.
• Barrel: To move or drive at high speed (informal).
• Careen: To move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way.
• Fling: To throw or hurl forcefully (for the transitive sense).

Phrasal Verbs

"Hurtle" does not commonly form standard phrasal verbs. Its meaning is primarily conveyed with prepositions (e.g., hurtle down, hurtle toward, hurtle into).

Related Idioms

• "Hurtle headlong": To rush forward very quickly without caution or regard for danger.
  • The company hurtled headlong into the new market without proper research.

Verb

1. throw forcefully
2. make a thrusting forward movement
3. move with or as if with a rushing sound
   • The cars hurtled by