Definition of hurl verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

hurl

verb

/hɜːl/

/hɜːrl/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they hurl	/hɜːl/ /hɜːrl/
he / she / it hurls	/hɜːlz/ /hɜːrlz/
past simple hurled	/hɜːld/ /hɜːrld/
past participle hurled	/hɜːld/ /hɜːrld/
-ing form hurling	/ˈhɜːlɪŋ/ /ˈhɜːrlɪŋ/

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[transitive] hurl something/somebody + adv./prep. to throw something/somebody violently in a particular direction
- He hurled a brick through the window.
- Someone had hurled a grenade into the building.
- They hurled spears, screaming hideously.
Synonyms throw
throwtoss ▪ hurl ▪ fling ▪ chuck ▪ lob ▪ bowl ▪ pitchThese words all mean to send something from your hand through the air.
throw to send something from your hand or hands through the air:
Some kids were throwing stones at the window.
She threw the ball and he caught it.
toss to throw something lightly or carelessly:
She tossed her jacket onto the bed.
hurl to throw something violently in a particular direction:
Rioters hurled a brick through the car’s windscreen.
fling to throw somebody/something somewhere with a lot of force, especially because you are angry or in a hurry:
She flung the letter down onto the table.
chuck (especially British English, informal) to throw something carelessly:
I chucked him the keys.
lob (informal) to throw something so that it goes high through the air:
They were lobbing stones over the wall.
bowl (in cricket) to throw the ball to the batterpitch (in baseball) to throw the ball to the batter
Patterns
- to throw/toss/hurl/fling/chuck/lob/bowl/pitch something at/to somebody/something
- to throw/toss/fling/chuck something aside/away
- to throw/toss/hurl/fling/chuck/lob/bowl/pitch a ball
- to throw/toss/hurl/fling/chuck stones/rocks/a brick
- to throw/toss/hurl/fling something angrily
- to throw/toss something casually/carelessly
Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

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[transitive] hurl abuse, accusations, insults, etc. (at somebody) to shout offensive words, etc. at somebody
- Rival fans hurled abuse at each other.
[intransitive] (North American English, slang) to vomit

Word OriginMiddle English: probably imitative, but corresponding in form and partly in sense with Low German hurreln.

See hurl in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

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Nearby words

convey

verb

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