Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
hurdles

hurdles

2.9
A race in which runners jump over barriers set at fixed distances
  • noun
  • /ˈhɜrdəlz/
translation icon : vallas
  • In the school's track meet, she excelled in the women's 100-meter hurdles event.
  • 100-METER hurdles
  • 400-METER hurdles
  • WOMEN'S 100 hurdles

I I wasn't good, but I did run hurdles.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • LET ME TAKE YOU THROUGH THE LIFE OF YOUR TYPICAL PIECE, SO YOU CAN SEE WHERE SOME OF THE HURDLES ARE.

    Shattered Glass (2003)

  • When you see the guys running and they're knocking over all the hurdles, they're being penalized for that.

    StarTalk

  • And here I was this young fellow and I think he he taught him how to do hurdles, how to jump hurdles with a horse.

  • I HAVE TO RUN THE HIGH HURDLES?

    Warrior of the Lost World (1983)

  • MAJOR HURDLES

    Academic text (2001)

  • CLEARING HURDLES

    Academic text (2000)

  • CLEARING THE HURDLES

    Academic text (1996)

  • The athlete trained every day to prepare for the 110-meter hurdles race.

  • During the competition, many runners stumbled over the hurdles and lost valuable time.

Synonyms

race
vshurdles
∞ 1.0

A contest to see who is fastest or finishes first

adds the requirement of running and jumping over set barriers
footrace
vshurdles
3 2.7

A race where people run a set distance

focuses specifically on running plus jumping over fixed barriers
hurdling
vshurdles
1 3.2

A race where people run and jump over small barriers

is the same event but presented as the activity name
hurdle race
vshurdles
3.2

A running race where runners jump over low barriers

refers broadly to the same competition without special wording

Surface Forms

hurdle singular
hurdles plural

Morphology

hurdles = hurdle (transparent) = hurdle + s

The plural or event sense is a direct and predictable formation from 'hurdle'; learners who know 'hurdle' will readily relate 'hurdles' to races or multiple barriers.

Etymology

Hurdles comes from an old word for a light wooden frame or fence people used to move animals, like a small 'fence' you could carry. That's why a race called hurdles has barriers you must jump over.