encumber
gb/ɪŋkˈʌmbɚ/ us/ɪŋkˈʌmbɚ/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
C1
action
1
burden or hinder movement/action
To make it harder for someone or something to move or do something because of a burden.
Usage pattern:
encumber [someone/something] (with/by [something])
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *encumber* where *annoy* or *disturb* is meant; *encumber* is about being weighed down or held back.
Synonyms
burden (General term for loading someone with a heavy weight or responsibility.)
|
hinder (Emphasizes slowing progress or making action difficult.)
|
impede (More formal; focuses on blocking movement or progress.)
|
weigh down (Often physical or strongly metaphorical, highlighting heaviness.)
Antonyms
free (To remove obstacles so movement or action is easy.)
|
unburden (To remove a load of responsibility or worry.)
|
unencumber (Direct opposite; to remove constraints or burdens.)
Collocations
encumbered by luggage
|encumbered with bags
|encumbered by responsibilities
|encumbered with obligations
|encumbered by bureaucracy
|encumbered by rules
|heavily encumbered
|encumbered movement
|encumbered schedule
|encumbered by paperwork
Themes
daily_life
|work
|movement
Examples
- Encumbered by two suitcases, she struggled to get up the stairs.
- Old approval processes can encumber innovation and slow decisions.
- Try not to encumber the team with unnecessary paperwork.
Learner examples
- He was encumbered with heavy bags.
- Too many rules can encumber a project.
Verb
business
C1
action
2
burden with debt or costs
To give someone so much debt or cost that it becomes a problem.
Usage pattern:
encumber [someone/organization] with [debt/costs/loans]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse *encumber* with *endanger*; *encumber* focuses on being tied down by obligations, especially financial ones.
Synonyms
saddle (Often used with debt; slightly informal compared with *encumber*.)
|
burden (Less specifically financial; can refer to any heavy responsibility.)
|
load (Highlights the weight of the financial obligation.)
Antonyms
clear (To remove debt or obligations (e.g., clear a debt).)
|
pay off (To eliminate a debt by paying it.)
Collocations
encumbered with debt
|encumbered by loans
|encumbered by interest payments
|encumber the budget
|encumbered balance
|encumbered funds
|encumbered with liabilities
|financially encumbered
|encumbered by costs
|encumber future earnings
Themes
money
|business
|personal_finance
Examples
- The expansion plan encumbered the company with more debt than it could handle.
- She refused to encumber herself with a long-term loan.
- High interest rates can encumber small businesses with expensive repayments.
Learner examples
- They were encumbered with debt.
- He did not want to encumber himself with a loan.
Verb
legal
C2
action
3
place a legal claim on property
To put a legal claim or restriction on property, like a mortgage or lien.
Usage pattern:
encumber [property/title/asset] with [a mortgage/lien/easement]
Common mistake:
In legal contexts, *encumber* does not mean simply 'occupy' or 'use'; it means placing a legal burden on ownership.
Synonyms
place a lien on (More specific; refers to one common type of encumbrance.)
|
mortgage (Specific method of encumbering property as security for a loan.)
|
attach (Legal/official; can mean applying a claim or seizure to property.)
Antonyms
release (To remove a legal claim or restriction (e.g., release a lien).)
|
clear (To make a title or property free of claims or restrictions.)
Collocations
encumbered property
|encumbered title
|encumber real estate
|encumber an asset
|encumbered by a lien
|encumbered by a mortgage
|encumbered by an easement
|free of encumbrances
|title is encumbered
|encumber the land
Themes
law
|real_estate
|business
Examples
- The property is encumbered by a lien from an unpaid contractor.
- The bank agreed to encumber the house with a mortgage as collateral for the loan.
- They discovered an easement that encumbered the land and limited construction.
Learner examples
- The house was encumbered by a mortgage.
Grammar
Dictionary form
encumber
IPA
GB/ɪŋkˈʌmbɚ/
US/ɪŋkˈʌmbɚ/
Syllables & stress
en - cum - ber (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cum)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: encumber
- 3rd Person Singular: encumbers
- Present Participle: encumbering
- Past: encumbered
Word family
Forms
encumbers
verb
encumbering
verb
encumbered
verb
Core family
cumbersome
adjective
Related words
encumbrance
noun C1
Negative and opposite forms
unencumbered
adjective C1
Expressions
be encumbered by
1/bˈi ɪŋkˈʌmbɚd bˈaɪ/
fixed phrase
formal
be held back by something
To be slowed or limited because of something.
Examples
- The project was encumbered by constant changes in requirements.
- The athlete’s movement was encumbered by a heavy brace.
- Small businesses are often encumbered by complex regulations.
be encumbered with
1/bˈi ɪŋkˈʌmbɚd wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
formal
be burdened by something
To have something heavy or difficult that slows you down.
Examples
- He was encumbered with shopping bags and couldn’t open the door.
- The department is encumbered with outdated procedures.
- By the end of the year, the firm was encumbered with debt.
encumber yourself with
1/ɪŋkˈʌmbɚ jʊɹsˈɛlf wˈɪθ/
fixed phrase
formal
take on a burden
To choose to take on something heavy or difficult, like debt.
Examples
- Don’t encumber yourself with debts you can’t repay.
- She didn’t want to encumber herself with management duties.
- It’s easy to encumber yourself with commitments that leave no free time.