Hinder

'hɪndər

verbmediumCommonGeneral

Definitions

1

To delay, prevent, or obstruct the progress or success of someone or something.

'hɪndər

verbnegativemedium
General

To create difficulties for someone or something, resulting in delay or obstruction.

The heavy traffic hindered our arrival.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're trying to build a really cool Lego castle, but your little brother keeps taking the bricks away. He's hindering you from finishing!

👶 For kids: To make something harder to do, like when you're trying to build a tower, and the wind is trying to knock it down.

More Examples

2

She felt that her lack of experience would hinder her career prospects.

3

The economic downturn is hindering business growth.

How It's Used

General Usage

"The rain hindered our progress."

Business

"Lack of funding hinders innovation."

Legal

"The judge decided that evidence was insufficient to hinder the investigation."

Idioms & expressions

hinderance

Something that causes delay or obstruction.

"The lack of transportation was a hindrance to the project."

From Old English *hindrian* ('to hold back, prevent'), related to *hind* (behind).

Used since Old English, showing continuous use throughout history related to the concept of slowing down or holding back.

Memory tip

Think of a hurdle race; something that hinders stops the runner.

hindererhinderd

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written