hinder
gb/hˈaɪndɚ/ us/hˈaɪndɚ/
B2
English
~ 6000
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B2
action
1
make progress or action difficult
To slow or make the work or progress of someone or something more difficult, but not stop it completely.
Usage pattern:
to hinder [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners often use "hinder" when they mean "stop" or "prevent". "Hinder" means to make something slower or more difficult, not to make it impossible. For example, "Rain hindered the game" means the game was made harder or delayed, not fully canceled. Also, the common pattern is "hinder [someone/something]" or "hinder [someone] from doing [something]", not "hinder to do".
Synonyms
impede (Slightly more formal; often used about movement, progress, or processes being slowed or blocked.)
|
hamper (Suggests being held back or restricted, often by practical difficulties or constraints.)
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obstruct (Focuses more on blocking the way or path, either physically or figuratively.)
|
hold back (More informal phrasal verb; often used for people, emotions, or progress being limited.)
Antonyms
help (Means to make it easier for someone to do something, the direct opposite of making it harder.)
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aid (More formal; emphasizes giving support or assistance instead of causing difficulty.)
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facilitate (Formal; means to make a process easier or smoother, the reverse of creating obstacles.)
Collocations
hinder progress
|hinder development
|hinder growth
|hinder efforts
|hinder access
|hinder communication
Themes
work
|society
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Heavy regulations can sometimes hinder innovation in small companies.
- Traffic jams hinder the delivery of goods to the city center.
- Her lack of experience may hinder her chances of getting the job.
- The language barrier hindered effective communication between the teams.
- Poor internet access continues to hinder online education in rural areas.
Learner examples
- Bad weather can hinder travel by air and road.
- Noise from the street hindered me while I was studying.
- His injury hinders him when he tries to run fast.
- A slow computer can hinder your work.
- Fear of making mistakes may hinder students from speaking in class.
adjective
literary
C2
property
2
located at the back part
At the back part of something, especially the back legs or end of an animal or object.
Usage pattern:
the hinder [part/side/legs]
Common mistake:
Many learners do not meet this adjective at all and instead only know "hind" or "rear". In modern English, "hind legs" is much more common than "hinder legs", so learners should prefer "hind" or "back" in everyday speech and writing.
Synonyms
rear (Common, neutral word for the back part of something.)
|
hind (Very common before nouns like "legs"; more usual today than "hinder" in many contexts.)
Antonyms
front (Refers to the forward or front part, the opposite of the back part.)
|
fore (More technical or literary; refers to the front part of an animal or object.)
Collocations
hinder legs
|hinder part
|hinder quarters
|hinder end
Themes
anatomy
|animals
|space
Examples
- The horse injured one of its hinder legs during the race.
- The wagon tipped when the load shifted toward the hinder end.
- They secured the luggage to the hinder part of the cart.
- The animal's hinder quarters were stronger than its front.
- Mud splashed up along the car's hinder side as it drove through the field.
Learner examples
- The dog had a problem with its hinder legs.
- The heavy box was placed at the hinder end of the truck.
- He sat on the hinder seat of the carriage.
- The cow kicked with its hinder leg.
- They painted only the hinder wall of the shed.
Grammar
Dictionary form
hinder
IPA
GB/hˈaɪndɚ/
US/hˈaɪndɚ/
Syllables & stress
hinder (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (hinder)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: hinder
- 3rd Person Singular: hinders
- Present Participle: hindering
- Past: hindered
Word family
Forms
hinders
verb
hindering
verb
hindered
verb
Core family
hindrance
noun B2
Negative and opposite forms
unhindered
adjective
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.