v., -dered, -der·ing, -ders. v.tr.
- To be or get in the way of.
- To obstruct or delay the progress of.
To interfere with action or progress.
[Middle English hindren, from Old English hindrian.]
hinderer hin'der·er n.SYNONYMS hinder, hamper, impede, obstruct, block, dam, bar. These verbs mean to slow or prevent progress or movement. To hinder is to hold back and often implies stopping or prevention: The travelers were hindered by storms. To hamper is to hinder by or as if by fastening or entangling: His clothes hampered his efforts to swim to safety. To impede is to slow by making action or movement difficult: "Our journey was impeded by a thousand obstacles" (Mary Shelley). Obstruct implies the presence of obstacles: A building obstructed our view of the mountains. Block refers to complete obstruction that prevents progress, passage, or action: "Do not block the way of inquiry" (Charles S. Peirce). Dam suggests obstruction of the flow, progress, or release of something: She dammed the brook to form a pool. He dammed up his emotions. To bar is to prevent entry or exit or prohibit a course of action: The legislature passed laws that bar price fixing.
