Hamper Meaning: Usage, Examples, and Synonyms

Meaning 1：hinder (hamper)

hamper 🔊

/ˈhæmpər/

vt.

To make it difficult for something to happen or for someone to do something.

Hamper verb meaning: person struggling through thick mud

hinder 🔊

➕

/ˈhɪndər/

vt.

To cause difficulty or delay; to prevent something from proceeding smoothly.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Middle English 'hamperen', likely from Old Norse 'hamla' (to restrain).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a laundry hamper blocking a doorway; it hampers your passage.

📖 Example

The heavy snow and strong winds hamper the rescue team's efforts to reach the stranded hikers. 🔊 The heavy snow and strong winds hamper the rescue team's efforts to reach the stranded hikers.

🔗 Collocations

hamper progress – to slow down or stop the advancement of something

hamper development – to impede the growth or improvement of something

hamper efforts – to obstruct attempts to achieve something

🔄 Synonyms

hinder (vt.) – To create obstacles or delays; to make it harder for something to happen.

impede (vt.) – To delay or block the movement or progress of something.

obstruct (vt.) – To block or close up a passage, making movement or progress difficult.

🚫 Antonyms

facilitate (vt.) – To make an action or process easy or easier.

aid (vt.) – To provide support or help to achieve something.

assist (vt.) – To give help or support, especially in a task or effort.

🌱 Derivatives

hampered (adj.) – Having difficulty or being obstructed.

hampering (adj.) – Causing obstruction or difficulty.

hamperer (n.) – A person or thing that hampers.

📖 Cultural Story

The verb 'hamper' possibly derives from Old Norse 'hamla', meaning to hobble a horse. It entered English in the 14th century and is unrelated to the noun 'hamper' (a basket).