To hurtle means to move with great speed and often with a sense of danger or lack of control. When a meteor hurtles through space toward Earth, it races forward with tremendous force and momentum, moving at incredible velocity. When a bobsled hurtles down an icy track, the riders feel the wild speed as they rush toward the finish line.

The word captures both velocity and a certain recklessness or intensity. A careful driver doesn't hurtle down the highway; they drive steadily. But a runaway shopping cart might hurtle across a parking lot, picking up speed as it rolls. A football player might hurtle himself at the ball carrier, throwing his whole body forward with explosive force.

You'll often see hurtle used to describe things moving through the air or downward: rocks hurtling down a mountainside, a roller coaster hurtling through a loop, or an athlete hurtling over a high jump bar. The word suggests speed combined with power, and often a hint that the movement is thrilling, dangerous, or slightly out of control.