Definitions
01athletic barrier
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Sports
n. one of the frames that runners or horses jump over during a race.
n. a portable frame or barrier used as an obstacle in track and field or equestrian racing.
Español:valla
“The runner tripped on the final hurdle but still managed to finish the race.”
“The athlete's technique over the high hurdles was flawless, maintaining a low center of gravity to minimize time spent in the air.”
02a problem or obstacle
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a problem or difficulty that you must deal with before you can succeed.
n. a metaphorical obstacle or difficulty that must be addressed or overcome to achieve a goal.
Español:valla
“The biggest hurdle to starting the business was finding enough money.”
“Securing the necessary building permits proved to be the final administrative hurdle before construction could officially begin on the new wing.”
Synonyms
03to overcome a problem
C1 · Advanced Literary
v. to successfully deal with a difficult problem.
v. to successfully surmount or overcome a figurative obstacle.
“The team hurdled every challenge the project threw at them.”
“Having hurdled the initial skepticism of the board, the CEO was finally able to implement the restructuring plan.”
Usage
Often used with verbs like 'clear', 'overcome', or 'face'.
Real-World Examples
“The local laws that determine project locations and whether these projects can be built at all have become a growing hurdle.” “And then, over the weekend, when the new tariffs struck, Seevers saw another hurdle appear.” Etymology
] From Middle English hurdel, hirdel, herdel, hyrdel, from Old English hyrdel (“frame of intertwined twigs used as a temporary barrier”), diminutive of hyrd, from Proto-Germanic hurdiz, from Pre-Germanic kr̥h₂tis, from Proto-Indo-European kreh₂-. Cognate with Dutch horde, German Hürde.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/hurdle
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0