encumber
gb/ɪŋkˈʌmbɚ/ us/ɪŋkˈʌmbɚ/
C1
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
Verbe
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.
Schéma d’usage :
encumber [someone/something] (with/by [something])
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes use *encumber* where *annoy* or *disturb* is meant; *encumber* is about being weighed down or held back.
Synonymes
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.)
Antonymes
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
Thèmes
daily_life
|work
|movement
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- He was encumbered with heavy bags.
- Too many rules can encumber a project.
Verbe
business
C1
action
2
burden with debt or costs
To give someone so much debt or cost that it becomes a problem.
Schéma d’usage :
encumber [someone/organization] with [debt/costs/loans]
Erreur fréquente :
Do not confuse *encumber* with *endanger*; *encumber* focuses on being tied down by obligations, especially financial ones.
Synonymes
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.)
Antonymes
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
Thèmes
money
|business
|personal_finance
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- They were encumbered with debt.
- He did not want to encumber himself with a loan.
Verbe
legal
C2
action
3
place a legal claim on property
To put a legal claim or restriction on property, like a mortgage or lien.
Schéma d’usage :
encumber [property/title/asset] with [a mortgage/lien/easement]
Erreur fréquente :
In legal contexts, *encumber* does not mean simply 'occupy' or 'use'; it means placing a legal burden on ownership.
Synonymes
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.)
Antonymes
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
Thèmes
law
|real_estate
|business
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The house was encumbered by a mortgage.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
encumber
API
GB/ɪŋkˈʌmbɚ/
US/ɪŋkˈʌmbɚ/
Syllabes et accentuation
en - cum - ber (3 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cum)
Formes du mot
Verb
- Base: encumber
- 3rd Person Singular: encumbers
- Present Participle: encumbering
- Past: encumbered
Famille de mots
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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- 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.