hamper

1 of 2

verb

ham·​per ˈham-pər How to pronounce hamper (audio)
hampered; hampering ˈham-p(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce hamper (audio)

transitive verb

1
a
: to restrict the movement of by bonds or obstacles : impede
pitching … violently in the seaway, hampered by her heavy towR. S. Porteous
b
: to interfere with the operation of : disrupt
radio communications hampered by staticGlobe & Mail
2
a
: to moderate or limit the effect or full exercise of : curb, restrain
a work environment that hampers creativity
b
: to interfere with : to impede the natural activity of : encumber
Bad weather hampered the search effort.
a project hampered by budget restraints

hamper

2 of 2

noun

: a large basket usually with a cover for packing, storing, or transporting articles (such as food or laundry)
Choose the Right Synonym for hamper

hamper, trammel, clog, fetter, shackle, manacle mean to hinder or impede in moving, progressing, or acting.

hamper may imply the effect of any impeding or restraining influence.

hampered the investigation by refusing to cooperate

trammel suggests entangling by or confining within a net.

rules that trammel the artist's creativity

clog usually implies a slowing by something extraneous or encumbering.

a court system clogged by frivolous suits

fetter suggests a restraining so severe that freedom to move or progress is almost lost.

a nation fettered by an antiquated class system

shackle and manacle are stronger than fetter and suggest total loss of freedom.

a mind shackled by stubborn prejudice
a people manacled by tyranny

Examples of hamper in a Sentence

Verb The project was hampered by budget restraints. Construction is hampering traffic on the highway.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Compressed gas is injected to prevent plasma from breaking down and bursting into flames, which would hamper the process. IEEE Spectrum, 12 Mar. 2024 For example, during the horrific Camp Fire in 2018, thousands of critical cellphone messages were missed, delayed or lost, hampering officials’ efforts to warn residents, while messages on landlines were more likely to reach them. Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, The Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2024 And there could be an up-ballot effect, in states such as North Carolina and Arizona, which feature the kinds of candidates for statewide office in the mold of Trump who have hampered Republicans' chances in the last three election cycles. Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 6 Mar. 2024 These are days where low humidity, high heat and strong winds are more likely, with the low humidity making vegetation more prone to burning, warmer nighttime temperatures hampering ability to control flames and wind causing the fires to burn faster. Li Cohen, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2024 The Ramblas reminded me of the advantages of a hardtail versus a full-suspension mountain bike: quicker handling, better feedback from the back wheel and enhanced climbing power with no rear shock to hamper pedaling energy. William Roberson, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 So far, most of these individuals have contributed just a fraction of their previous donations or not at all, perhaps hampered by the lack of an outside committee without contribution limits. Gabrielle Lamarr Lemee, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 The Prime Minister acknowledged that a lack of rule of law can breed corruption and injustice, hampering the country's progress. Zenger News, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Beyond bureaucracy, progress has also been hampered by the logistical challenge of replacing external materials on structures upwards of 50 meters high, says Zevotek. Alex Christian, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2024
Noun
Don't allow piles of dirty, sweaty clothes and damp towels to accumulate in the hamper. Tamara Gane, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2024 Washington, Europe and others say that Beijing improperly hampers access to emerging industries and steals or pressures foreign companies to hand over technology. Jon Gambrell, Quartz, 26 Feb. 2024 Drawer upon drawer reveals antique pens, watches, clocks, cuff links, medals, lighters, more hood ornaments including a bulldog and assorted devils, a complete set of maps for the early British motorist, and a full dining set in a hamper. Paul Croughton, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2024 The study found that the lower someone's income, the higher their tax rate, which lets the wealthy off the hook and hampers states' ability to raise revenue. Harold Maass, The Week Us, theweek, 10 Jan. 2024 Incorrect mask usage, prevalent despite high mask adoption, hampers effectiveness. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 19 Jan. 2024 And once your clothes are no longer clean, the zippered pouch makes an excellent dirty laundry hamper. Anna Popp, Travel + Leisure, 22 Sep. 2023 Staton noted how Girardi would dig through a hamper looking for the sweater before key meetings with psychological experts. Harriet Ryan, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2024 Pick matching bins to help things look tidy when they're put away, or choose a large hamper with a lid so dirty clothes and towels can be easily stashed away until laundry day. Maggie Gillette, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hamper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English

Noun

Middle English hamper, hanaper, literally, case to hold goblets, from Anglo-French hanaper, from hanap goblet, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English hnæpp bowl

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hamper was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near hamper

Cite this Entry

“Hamper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hamper. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hamper

1 of 2 verb
ham·​per ˈham-pər How to pronounce hamper (audio)
hampered; hampering -p(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce hamper (audio)
: to slow the movement, progress, or action of
bad weather hampered the search

hamper

2 of 2 noun
: a large basket usually with a cover
a clothes hamper

More from Merriam-Webster on hamper

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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