hinder
HIHN-duh
Hinder (verb) means to make something more difficult or slow to accomplish; to get in the way of. Example: “Heavy rain hindered the rescue effort.”
verb
1
To make something more difficult or slow to accomplish; to get in the way of.
"A drought hinders the growth of plants."
"Arsenal were playing without a recognised full-back – their defence comprising four centre-halves – and the lack of width was hindering their progress."
— David Ornstein, Arsenal 1 – 0 Everton (2011)
"Heavy rain hindered the rescue effort."
"A lack of funding hindered the project from the start."
How to use hinder
Learner’s notesIn 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.
Common pairings
hinder progress
hinder efforts
hinder growth
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Word forms
- Plural
- hinders
- Third person singular
- hinders
- Past tense
- hindered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Heavy rain _____ the rescue effort.
Etymology
From Old English hindrian, from Proto-Germanic *hindrōną ("to hold back").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for hinder
See all rhymes for hinder →Frequently asked questions
What does “hinder” mean?
The word “hinder” means to make something more difficult or slow to accomplish; to get in the way of. In plain terms, to slow something down or block its progress.
How do you pronounce “hinder”?
“Hinder” is pronounced HIHN-duh (/ˈhɪndɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “hinder” in a sentence?
Here is “hinder” used in a sentence: “Heavy rain hindered the rescue effort.”
What is another word for “hinder”?
Words with a similar meaning to “hinder” include behedge, blunt, crimp, delay, difficult and diminish.
What is the opposite of “hinder”?
The opposite of “hinder” — its antonyms — are abet, assist, expedite, facilitate and further.
What part of speech is “hinder”?
“Hinder” is a verb.
Where does the word “hinder” come from?
The word “hinder” comes from Old English. From Old English hindrian, from Proto-Germanic *hindrōną ("to hold back").
Is “hinder” a common word?
“Hinder” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
