Hamper
To hinder or impede movement, progress, or action; to prevent someone or something from moving freely.
verbHamper
To hinder or impede movement, progress, or action; to prevent someone or something from moving freely.
verbImagine This
Parents who pamper their child too much will limit the child to mature naturally.
Sounds Like
ham-per
Looks Like
pamper (similar spelling; different meaning)
Remember This
Hamper and hamper (basket) are different senses; the verb hamper and the noun hamper share spelling but come from different origins. The core idea of hamper is to hold back or obstruct.
Other Forms
Connect With
hinder, impede, obstruct, inhibit, retard
Note
Do not confuse with 'happen' or with the noun 'hamper' (a large basket). 'Hamper' as a verb takes a direct object (to hamper someone or something) and is often used with predicates like 'hampered by' or 'hampering progress'.
Study Deeper
- The heavy rain hampered our progress on the hike.
- Budget cuts hampered the company's ability to expand.
From Middle English hamperen, meaning to hinder; the noun hamper (a basket) shares spelling but has a separate origin.
HAM-PER: Imagine a ham sandwich blocking your path—anything that blocks your movement is a ham-per.
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Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Impede
verbTo block; to obstruct
Abandon
verbTo give up completely, to desert or leave behind, or to relinquish a claim, plan, or responsibility.
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verbTo decrease in amount or intensity; to reduce or end something.
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