verb

hinder

HIHN-duh

verb

To make something more difficult or slow to accomplish; to get in the way of.

"Heavy rain hindered the rescue effort."

"A lack of funding hindered the project from the start."

How to Use Hinder

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo slow something down or block its progress.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "hind" (the adjective for "rear") — "hinder" is the verb meaning to obstruct.

Easily confused with

hinder → hind →

Common pairings

hinder progress hinder efforts hinder growth

hindered past tense, hinders plural, hinders singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “hinder” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Can you complete this real example?

Heavy rain _____ the rescue effort.

From Old English hindrian, from Proto-Germanic *hindrōną ("to hold back").

behedge blunt crimp delay difficult diminish forestay interfere intervene forslow frustrate get in the way

abet assist expedite facilitate further help hurdle nurture

abandonment money yet spoil benefit sharp decrease augment

kinder tinder cinder finder binder Linder grinder cylinder reminder remainder sidewinder

behedge blunt crimp delay difficult diminish forestay interfere intervene forslow frustrate get in the way