# hurdles

/ˈhɝdəɫz/ (US) · /hˈɜːdəlz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hurdles
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. problems or obstacles

noun · CEFR B2

problems or difficulties that you must deal with before you can achieve something.

For teachers: metaphorical obstacles or difficulties that impede progress toward a specific objective.

- The young entrepreneur faced many financial hurdles before her business became successful.
- The legal team worked tirelessly to clear the remaining regulatory hurdles that were preventing the merger from being finalised by the end of the quarter.

### 2. the sport

noun · CEFR B2

a race in which runners or horses must jump over barriers.

For teachers: a track-and-field event or horse race involving the jumping of regularly spaced barriers.

- She trained every morning to improve her speed in the 100-metre hurdles.
- The athlete's technique in the hurdles was flawless, maintaining a low center of gravity while clearing each barrier with minimal loss of momentum.

### 3. physical barriers

noun · CEFR B1

the actual frames or fences that people jump over in a race.

For teachers: the physical frames or obstacles used in athletics or equestrian events.

- The ground crew set up the hurdles on the track before the competition started.
- The stadium staff carefully measured the distance between the hurdles to ensure the track met international competition standards.

### 4. jumps over

verb · CEFR B2

to jump over something while running.

For teachers: to leap over an obstacle while in motion; often used figuratively to mean bypassing a problem.

- The horse hurdles the fence easily and continues running toward the finish line.
- In his latest policy proposal, the minister hurdles the traditional objections of his critics by offering a compromise on tax reform.

Usage: The third-person singular form of the verb 'hurdle'.

## Examples

- The high cost is a major hurdle.
- She cleared the last hurdle by securing funding for her project.
- The committee identified regulatory compliance as the final hurdle before the merger could proceed.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.