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Glite Dictionary
to hurtle down

to hurtle down

2 6.7
Move quickly and without control down a hill or road
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈhɜːrtl daʊn/
translation icon : caer rápidamente
  • I started way back at the entrance to the parking ramp and hurtled down the sidewalk.
  • hurtle down the hill
  • hurtle down the track
  • hurtling down the mountain

Examples

  • Fueled by outrage, he hurtles down the stairs, leveling his weapon at the reinforced door.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Max hurtles down the corridor with a young intern in tow.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • As one, Web and his Charlie Team rose and hurtled down the alley.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • From a high angle, we see the Dude hurtling down toward the city, dragged by the ball.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Riders would come hurtling down, whip around and out the back.

  • And then they hurtle down the corridor, and burst through that door right there.

    Spice World (1997)

  • The two vehicles are now locked together, gaining speed as they hurtle down the grade.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • The crystalline snow swirled about them as they hurtled down toward the farmhouses along Lake Niznije.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • The lead plane, Windy City, opens its throttles and hurtles down the runway and soars into the sky, surprisingly graceful.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The car spins out of control and hurtles down the icy highway at high speed.

Synonyms

to plummet
vsto hurtle down
93 5.8

Fall suddenly and steeply from a high place or in amount

is similar but stresses fast uncontrolled travel along a path as it descends
to tumble
vsto hurtle down
88 2.9

To fall or roll suddenly, often turning over

is straighter and more forceful motion toward a lower place rather than rolling
to plunge
vsto hurtle down
83 3.8

To fall or drop suddenly from a higher to a lower place

is about rapid forced travel toward a lower place rather than only vertical drops
to run down
vsto hurtle down
31 2.5

To flow down a surface like water on a window

is more violent and fast rather than a gradual flowing movement along a surface
to hurtle
vsto hurtle down
19 6.8

To move very fast and with great force like a train or meteor

is the same energy but specifically toward a lower place or along a path
to take a tumble
vsto hurtle down
7 5.4

To fall suddenly, for example by tripping or by losing value

is a stronger uncontrolled rush toward a lower place not just a simple fall
to sink like a stone
vsto hurtle down
  • Informal
2 6.7

Fall or fail very quickly and completely

is physical fast forced motion toward a lower place not a metaphorical failure
to hurtle towards
vsto hurtle down
1 6.8

To move very fast and out of control toward something, often causing harm

is a rapid uncontrolled motion toward a lower place or along a path
to pelt down
vsto hurtle down
  • Informal
1 7.2

To run or move very quickly without control

is mainly a violent rush toward a lower place rather than running on feet

Antonyms

to ascend
54 4.0

To move upward to a higher place, for example up a hill or into the sky

How Fast

to plummet
93 5.8
to hurtle down
2 6.7
tumble
46 2.9
to fall
∞ 1.0
slide
5 1.0
to descend
150 2.7

Surface Forms

hurtle down infinitive
hurtled down past
hurtled down past participle
hurtling down present participle
hurtles down third person singular

Morphology

hurtle + down

The phrase combines 'hurtle' (to move very rapidly with force) with 'down' (to a lower position), so its meaning 'move swiftly and uncontrollably downward' is directly derivable from the constituents. This verb + down composition is a common, transparent motion pattern in English (and in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows both words should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The verb hurtle down may come from the picture of something heavy that suddenly hurtles or crashes down a slope, racing forward and hard to stop, so it now means 'to move quickly and out of control'.