Hurdle
noun/verb Base: hurdle | Past: hurdled | Past Participle: hurdled | -ing: hurdling | 3rd person: hurdles
Definition
1. A problem or difficulty to overcome.
2. A frame to jump over in a race.
3. To jump over something while running.
2. A frame to jump over in a race.
3. To jump over something while running.
Context Alive
She had dreamed of studying abroad for years. But getting a visa turned out to be the biggest hurdle in the whole process, requiring months of paperwork, interviews, and waiting before she could finally book her flight.
Meanings
4 meanings 1 A Problem or Difficulty You Must Deal With to Make Progress (Noun) — VERY COMMON Common ▼
This meaning is about an obstacle standing between you and something you want to achieve. Imagine someone trying to start a small business, but the biggest hurdle is getting a bank loan because they have no credit history yet. This is a hurdle — something blocking your path forward. You might say the first hurdle to buying a house is saving enough for a deposit, or someone could describe language as a major hurdle when moving to a new country. Or picture a student who faces many hurdles on the way to graduation, from tough exams to financial problems. The word suggests difficulty, but also something you can get past with effort. ✏️ “Hurdle” feels more temporary and beatable than “barrier” — a hurdle is something you’re expected to overcome, not something permanent blocking your way.
Vivid ExampleThe startup had a great product, but the biggest hurdle was convincing investors to take a chance on a team with no track record, so they spent months perfecting their pitch.
2 A Frame or Fence That People or Horses Jump Over in a Race (Noun) — COMMON Common ▼
This meaning is about the physical barrier used in athletics or horse racing. Imagine watching a track event where runners sprint toward a row of hurdles, leaping over each one without breaking their speed. This is a hurdle — a small fence placed on the track for athletes to jump over. You might see an athlete knock over a hurdle during a race, or a horse could clip a hurdle and stumble in a steeplechase. Or picture a young athlete practicing by jumping over hurdles lined up across the track after school every day. The word points to speed, skill, and timing. ✏️ “Clear a hurdle” means successfully jumping over one without knocking it down — it’s the standard way to describe it in sports.
Vivid ExampleThe runner clipped the final hurdle with her knee and nearly lost her balance, but she recovered just in time to cross the finish line in second place.
3 A Race in Which Runners Jump Over Hurdles — 'The Hurdles' (Noun) — COMMON Common ▼
This meaning is about the actual race event itself, usually called “the hurdles.” Imagine watching the Olympics and seeing athletes line up for the 100-metre hurdles, one of the most exciting and fast-paced track events. This is the hurdles — a specific type of running race with barriers. You might say someone won a gold medal in the hurdles, or a coach could tell an athlete that the 400-metre hurdles requires both speed and stamina. Or picture a school sports day where students compete in the hurdles, racing each other while leaping over barriers. The word refers to the event as a whole. ✏️ Usually said with “the” — “the hurdles” or “the 110-metre hurdles” — to refer to the race event, not just the individual fences.
Vivid ExampleShe had been training for months, and when the announcer called the start of the hurdles, she crouched into position with her heart pounding, ready to give everything she had.
4 To Jump Over Something While Running (Verb) — COMMON Common ▼
This meaning is about physically leaping over an obstacle without stopping. Imagine a kid running through a park who hurdles a low fence to take a shortcut, jumping cleanly over it without slowing down. This is hurdling — jumping over something in your path while you keep moving. You might hurdle a puddle on a rainy day to keep your shoes dry, or a police officer could hurdle a wall while chasing someone through the streets. Or picture a dog that hurdles the garden gate every morning when it sees its owner coming home. The word suggests quick, athletic movement. ✏️ Different from “jump” — hurdling always suggests forward motion. You hurdle something while running, not from a standing position.
Vivid ExampleThe thief sprinted down the alley and hurdled a row of trash cans without breaking stride, disappearing around the corner before anyone could react.
Examples from the Street
“Getting the visa was the biggest hurdle — everything else was easy.”
Obtaining the travel permit was the main obstacle — the rest was straightforward
“We’ve still got a few hurdles to overcome before the project launches.”
We’ve still got some obstacles to get past before the work goes live
“She hurdled the fence and ran across the field.”
She jumped over the barrier and sprinted across the open ground
Common Patterns
a hurdle (to overcome/clear) → an obstacle or difficulty that must be dealt with
the biggest/main/first hurdle → the most significant obstacle
overcome/clear a hurdle → successfully deal with an obstacle
face/hit a hurdle → encounter a difficulty
a major/significant hurdle → a serious obstacle
the final/last hurdle → the remaining obstacle before success
the 100m/110m/400m hurdles → specific athletics events
clear/knock (over) a hurdle → jump over or hit a barrier in a race
run hurdles → compete in a hurdles event
hurdle (something) → jump over a physical obstacle
hurdle a fence/wall/barrier → leap over a physical structure
hurdle over (something) → jump across something
Collocations
3 collocationsclear a hurdle
overcome an obstacle successfully
major hurdle
a significant obstacle to overcome
first hurdle
the initial challenge to face
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
Getting planning permission was the biggest hurdle in the entire building process
Securing approval from the authorities was the most significant obstacle in the whole construction effort.
2
We’ve overcome the first hurdle — now we need to sort out the funding
We’ve got past the initial obstacle — now we need to arrange the financial backing.
3
The language barrier remains a major hurdle for many immigrants
Not speaking the local tongue continues to be a significant obstacle for many newcomers.
4
There are still a few hurdles to clear before the deal is finalised
There are still some obstacles to get past before the agreement is completed.
5
Finding affordable childcare is often the final hurdle for parents returning to work
Securing reasonably priced care for children is frequently the last remaining obstacle for mothers and fathers going back to employment.
6
The company hit a hurdle when their main supplier went bankrupt
The business encountered a major difficulty when their primary provider went out of operation.
7
She won gold in the 100m hurdles at the European Championships
She claimed the top prize in the short sprint barrier race at the continental competition.
8
He cleared every hurdle cleanly and crossed the finish line first
He jumped over each barrier perfectly and reached the end ahead of everyone.
9
The dog hurdled the garden fence and disappeared down the road
The animal leapt over the back boundary and vanished along the street.
10
The thief hurdled over two walls before police caught him
The criminal jumped across a pair of barriers before officers apprehended him.
Learner Examples
★
Pronunciation is often the biggest hurdle for learners whose first language has very different sounds
How to say words correctly is frequently the greatest obstacle for students whose native tongue uses very dissimilar speech patterns.
★
Passing the speaking exam was the final hurdle before she received her certificate
Getting through the oral test was the last remaining obstacle before she obtained her qualification.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
1 items Idioms & Expressionsclear a hurdle — overcome a difficult obstacle
We cleared a major hurdle when the funding was approved.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsobstacle
something blocking your way
barrier
something preventing progress
challenge
a difficult task to overcome
setback
something that slows you down
Antonymsadvantage
something that helps you
boost
something that pushes you forward