hamstring

1 of 2

noun

ham·​string ˈham-ˌstriŋ How to pronounce hamstring (audio)
1
a
: either of two groups of tendons at the back of the human knee
b
: any of three muscles at the back of the thigh that function to flex and rotate the leg and extend the thigh
2
: a large tendon above and behind the hock of a quadruped

hamstring

2 of 2

verb

hamstrung ˈham-ˌstrəŋ How to pronounce hamstring (audio) ; hamstringing ˈham-ˌstriŋ-iŋ How to pronounce hamstring (audio) ; hamstrings

transitive verb

1
: to make ineffective or powerless : disable
hamstrung by guilt
2
: to deprive of the use of a leg by cutting the leg tendons

Examples of hamstring in a Sentence

Verb The mayor tried to hamstring our efforts by cutting the budget. The company claims it is being hamstrung by government regulations.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Alex Caruso is questionable for Monday’s game due to a right hamstring strain. Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 4 Mar. 2024 Ellis scored just eight points in the January rivalry matchup in his first game back from a three-game absence because of a hamstring injury. Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024 Right guard Hunt played at an elite level when he wasn’t sidelined seven games by hamstring injuries. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024 He’d been haggled ever since a return from a hamstring injury, not himself, unable to cut or burst properly and embroiled in a major five-game slump. Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 16 Feb. 2024 In the third quarter, wide receiver Deebo Samuel went out with a hamstring injury, marking the Niners’ second injury on the night. Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 12 Feb. 2024 Battling a back injury that cost him much of 2022 and a hamstring strain that cost him a month last season, Luciano had played only 74 games above A-ball when the Giants called him up last summer, one of 12 players to make their major-league debuts for San Francisco in 2023. Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024 On Saturday, Williamson missed Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the Women’s Super League with a hamstring strain. Manasi Pathak, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 Philadelphia also played without Nico Batum (left hamstring strain), Robert Covington (left knee bone bruise), Tobias Harris (left hip impingement) and De’Anthony Melton (back; lumbar spine stress response). Anthony Sanfilippo, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2024
Verb
The Minnesota Hospital Association said the billing systems of some of its members have been hamstrung, unable to process claims and receive reimbursement. Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 3 Mar. 2024 No doubt the huge amounts of cash involved, if Beijing can put it to work, will cloak the immediate effects of the property crisis, but otherwise, these plans will hamstring China’s growth model fundamentally and perhaps permanently. Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The audit affirms reporting by The Arizona Republic in 2022 that found outdated appraisals and limited regulation hamstrung the state from monitoring water use and charging fair market rate on thousands of acres of land leased for agriculture. Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 24 Feb. 2024 And even though the Fed’s decisions influence mortgage rates, the central bank’s two mandates are to stabilize prices and maximize employment, not ensure housing affordability, which is also hamstrung by limited housing supply. Bryan Mena, CNN, 4 Feb. 2024 Billy Price and Jackson Carman are among the recent busts, causing a ripple effect that’s ultimately hamstrung other parts of the team. Jason Williams, The Enquirer, 4 Jan. 2024 Much of what is being considered in negotiations would hamstring U.S. Customs and Border Protection while failing to deal with the root cause of migration, said Jason Houser, who was chief of staff at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement until March. Erin B. Logan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2023 Europe’s economy has struggled to regain momentum following the pandemic, hamstrung by high inflation and rapid interest rate hikes to combat it. Anna Cooban, CNN, 30 Jan. 2024 That agenda will be hamstrung by the DPP losing its majority in the legislature. Vic Chiang, Washington Post, 13 Jan. 2024

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

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hamstring was in 1565

Dictionary Entries Near hamstring

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

hamstring

1 of 2 noun
ham·​string ˈham-ˌstriŋ How to pronounce hamstring (audio)
1
: either of two groups of tendons at the back of the human knee
2
: any of three muscles at the back of the thigh that function to extend the thigh, rotate the leg, and bend the knee

hamstring

2 of 2 verb
hamstrung
-ˌstrəŋ
; hamstringing
-ˌstriŋ-iŋ
1
: to cripple by cutting the leg tendons
2
: to make ineffective or powerless : cripple
hamstrung by restrictions

Medical Definition

hamstring

1 of 2 noun
ham·​string ˈham-ˌstriŋ How to pronounce hamstring (audio)
1
a
: either of two groups of tendons bounding the upper part of the popliteal space at the back of the knee and forming the tendons of insertion of some muscles of the back of the thigh
2
: a large tendon above and behind the hock of a quadruped corresponding to the human Achilles tendon

hamstring

2 of 2 transitive verb
hamstrung -ˌstrəŋ How to pronounce hamstring (audio) ; hamstringing -ˌstriŋ-iŋ How to pronounce hamstring (audio)
: to cripple by cutting the leg tendons
folklore has it that wolf packs try to hamstring their preyJohn Madson

More from Merriam-Webster on hamstring

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