Hinder Meaning
/ˈhɪndəː/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo make difficult to accomplish; to act as an obstacle; to frustrate.
verbTo delay or impede; to keep back, to prevent.
Sentence Examples
Nothing could hinder Kate from using all her energy to polish her performances.
Don't hinder me in my work.
He didn't come to help, but to hinder us.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The large rock on the path will ____ our hike, forcing us to take a detour.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The heavy rain and strong winds will definitely ____ our progress as we try to finish the roof.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English hindren, from Old English hindrian, from Proto-Germanic *hindrōną, *hinderōną (“to hinder”), from Proto-Germanic *hinder (“back”) (adverb). Cognate with Dutch hinderen and German hindern, Latin contra (“back, against”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"We doubt not of a faire and luckie Warre, / Since God ſo graciouſly hath brought to light / This dangerous Treaſon, lurking in our way, / To hinder our beginnings."
— 1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], page 75, column 2:
"Arsenal were playing without a recognised full-back – their defence comprising four centre-halves – and the lack of width was hindering their progress."
— 2011 December 10, David Ornstein, “Arsenal 1 – 0 Everton”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 05 Dec 2018:
"Then let me goe, and hinder not my courſe: [...]"
— c. 1590–1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Two Gentlemen of Verona”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vii], page 28, column 1:
"[I]f in thoſe days Cham and Japhet, and other Parents beſides the Eldest Son were Heads and Princes over their Families, and had a right to divide the Earth by Families, what hinders Younger Brothers, being Fathers of Families from having the ſame right, [...]"
— 1689 December (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], “Who Heir?”, in Two Treatises of Government: […], London: […] Awnsham Churchill, […], →OCLC, book I, paragraph 142, pages 181–182:
"If me and a certain character met, the guy that invented the cigarette, I'd murder that son of a gun in the first degree. Now it ain't 'cause that I don't smoke myself and I don't reckon they hinder your health. I've smoked them all my life and I ain't dead yet."
— 1947, Merle Travis, Tex Williams, “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)”:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The large rock on the path will ____ our hike, forcing us to take a detour.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The heavy rain and strong winds will definitely ____ our progress as we try to finish the roof.