hamper
What does "hamper" mean?
To hamper means to hinder, obstruct, or impede the progress or movement of someone or something. Visualize a person trying to run through deep mud or thick underbrush; the environment is physically holding them back, making every step an exhausting effort. In usage, it is often employed in professional or academic contexts to describe external factors that slow down a project or an objective. You might say that a lack of resources hampers productivity, or that heavy rain hampered the rescue efforts. It is slightly more formal than "stop" or "block."
"hamper" in conversation
Work project delay
Do you think the new software update will hamper our progress this week?
Do you think the new software update will hamper our progress this week?
Probably, it’s been crashing every time we try to save large files.
Probably, it’s been crashing every time we try to save large files.
Used to describe a process being slowed down by technical issues.
Discussing logistics
The dense fog really hampered the search team’s ability to locate the hikers.
The dense fog really hampered the search team’s ability to locate the hikers.
I heard they had to call off the search until sunrise.
I heard they had to call off the search until sunrise.
Used to describe environmental factors obstructing an action.
"hamper" in a sentence
Heavy traffic hampered our arrival time.
Heavy traffic hampered our arrival time.
The lack of funding hampered the research team's ability to complete their study.
The lack of funding hampered the research team's ability to complete their study.
Regulations intended to improve safety sometimes inadvertently hamper innovation in the tech sector.
Regulations intended to improve safety sometimes inadvertently hamper innovation in the tech sector.
