What does hurtled mean?
Hurtled is the past tense and past participle of hurtle, a verb describing movement at great speed and often with striking force. The word commonly evokes a vehicle, person, or object moving rapidly and sometimes uncontrollably: a cyclist hurtled around the bend, or a meteor hurtled through the atmosphere. Its force-picture can suggest urgency, panic, dramatic change, or simply energetic momentum, so it is especially effective in narrative, journalistic, and descriptive prose. Because it concentrates attention on speed and force, hurtled is often more vivid than simply moved. It remains standard in both British and American English, though it sounds somewhat literary in formal writing and is less typical in casual conversation than rushed or sped. As an inflected form, it normally appears in finite clauses, such as “the car hurtled forward,” and perfect constructions, such as “she had hurtled across the country,” rather than as a noun or an independent adjective.
verbMoved rapidly or with great force, typically in a way suggesting urgency or a loss of control.
- Moved rapidly or with great force, especially in a way suggesting urgency, danger, or lack of control.
"The train hurtled through the storm as the passengers clung to their seats."
"The spacecraft hurtled through the bright upper atmosphere."
"She hurtled down the corridor when she heard the alarm."
"The report hurtled through the newsroom as details emerged."
Hurtled began with the idea of a forceful collision, then took off at high speed.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hurtled come from?
Hurtled is the past tense and past participle of hurtle. The verb descends from Middle English hurten, “to push or collide,” borrowed from Anglo-French hurter, “to hit or bump into,” a word of Germanic origin. Its early sense involved forceful movement or impact; the modern sense of moving rapidly, often headlong, developed from that older collision imagery.
Related word forms
How hurtled is actually used
The word is standard in British and American English but can sound literary or dramatic. It is less typical in casual conversation than synonyms such as rushed or sped.
Easily confused with hurtled
Hurled means thrown with force, whereas hurtled means moved rapidly or with great force.
Hurdled means overcame an obstacle or difficulty, whereas hurtled describes rapid, forceful movement.