hurl
B1Neutral to informal; 'vomit' sense is slang.
Definition
Meaning
To throw something with great force, often with a wide, sweeping motion.
To utter (something) with vehemence (e.g., an insult or accusation). To vomit forcefully (slang).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily implies great force, violence, or intensity in the action. Not typically used for careful or gentle throwing. The slang sense ('vomit') is very common in informal contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the word identically in its literal and figurative senses. The slang sense for 'vomit' is common in both.
Connotations
Identical connotations of force and violence. The vomiting sense is considered casual/slang.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in informal American English due to the slang use. Both understand all senses.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subj] hurl [Obj] (at/into/towards [Target])[Subj] hurl [Obj:insult/accusation] (at [Target])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hurl abuse/insults”
- “hurl oneself at/into something (to attack or dedicate oneself fiercely)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly figurative: 'The CEO hurled accusations at the rival company.'
Academic
Rare, except in historical/literary contexts describing battles or conflicts.
Everyday
Common for throwing with force and for the slang meaning of vomiting.
Technical
Not typically used in technical domains.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The protestor hurled a tomato at the politician.
- He was hurling his guts up after the party (slang).
American English
- The quarterback hurled the football down the field.
- She hurled a nasty insult at her coworker.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The giant hurled the rock into the sea.
- Don't hurl your toys!
- Angry fans hurled bottles onto the pitch.
- He hurled himself into his new job.
- The journalist hurled a difficult question at the minister.
- The volcano hurled ash and rock high into the air.
- Opponents hurled allegations of corruption at the regime, but proof was scarce.
- The cyclist was hurled from his bike by the impact.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HURL rhymes with WHIRL. Imagine whirling your arm around to HURL a ball.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMMUNICATION IS PHYSICAL COMBAT ('hurl insults'), REJECTION IS FORCIBLE EJECTION ('hurl something away').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'howl' (выть).
- The core meaning is closer to 'швырять', 'метать', not the softer 'бросать'.
- For the 'vomit' sense, it's very forceful, not just 'тошнить'.
Common Mistakes
- *He hurled the ball to me gently. (Contradicts 'force')
- Using it for handing over an object: *She hurled me the document. (Too aggressive)
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST likely meaning of 'hurl'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Hurl' implies much greater force, violence, or a wider, more sweeping motion. 'Throw' is the general, neutral term.
No, it is informal and vivid slang. More polite terms are 'be sick' or 'vomit'.
Yes, very commonly. To 'hurl insults', 'abuse', or 'accusations' means to shout them aggressively at someone.
Not in standard usage. The act is 'a hurl' only in very informal contexts (e.g., 'He gave it a good hurl').