hamper

play

verb ham·per \ ˈham-pər \

Definition of hamper

hampered; hampering play \ˈham-p(ə-)riŋ\

transitive verb

1 a :to restrict the movement of by bonds or obstacles :impede

pitching … violently in the seaway, hampered by her heavy tow
—R. S. Porteous

b :to interfere with the operation of :disrupt

radio communications hampered by static
—Globe & 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

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See hamper defined for kids

Examples of hamper in a Sentence

The project was hampered by budget restraints.
Construction is hampering traffic on the highway.

Recent Examples of hamper from the Web

The hurricane center said the wave was producing disorganized rain and storms but had a chance to develop over the next few days -- even though there was dry air in the vicinity that could hamper its growth.

— leigh morgan, AL.com, "Tropical wave forms in Atlantic while Category 4 hurricane in Pacific," 15 July 2017
Danger and corruption, says a GE official, are further hampering the company’s hopes of re-entering Mosul.

— The Economist, "Islamic State nears its end," 5 July 2017
But an illness and a back injury hampered his play.

— drew champlin, AL.com, "UAB pitcher Garrett Whitlock signing with Yankees," 3 July 2017
The loss could also hamper his controversial push to revise Japan’s pacifist constitution by 2020.

— isabel reynolds, Bloomberg.com, "Tarnished Abe Plunged Into Crisis After Tokyo Election Loss," 2 July 2017
JADORE LOVE INC-2 Courtesy If approved, the cuts would severely hamper a 10-year effort to improve hurricane intensity forecasts and halt work on a next-generation global weather prediction system.

— jenny staletovich, miamiherald, "NOAA considers moving Miami headquarters amid budget cuts," 28 June 2017
His relatively modest numbers hampered his postseason acknowledgments, but Archibald contends those statistics were superhuman considering the defensive attention Kmet garnered.

— will larkin, chicagotribune.com, "Tribune/WGN-9 Preps Plus Athlete of the Year: St. Viator's Cole Kmet," 24 June 2017
The state attorney has countered that she has been hampered by Florida laws that give law enforcement officers broad protections.

— julie k. brown, miamiherald, "As she mulls run for governor, Fernández Rundle rebuked by own party over Rainey case," 22 June 2017
His Xavier career was hampered by injury during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons, though.

— Cincinnati.com, "UC, XU NBA Draft prospects ready for big night," 21 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hamper.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of hamper

Middle English

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

hamper Synonyms

Synonyms

clog, cramp, embarrass, encumber, fetter, handcuff, handicap, hinder, hobble, hog-tie, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, short-circuit, stymie, tie up, trammel, cramp one's style, give a hard time

Antonyms

aid, assist, facilitate, help

Related Words

balk, check, constrain, curb, rein, restrain; bind, chain, halter, leash, tether, tie; arrest, brake, delay, retain, retard; barricade, block, blockade, roadblock; bog (down), mire; choke, smother, stifle, strangle, suffocate; baffle, foil, frustrate, stump, thwart; derail, disrupt, sabotage; muzzle, repress, suppress; confine, hedge (in), hem (in)

Near Antonyms

clear, make way, open, unclog, unplug, unstop; free, liberate, release, untie; loosen, smooth; encourage, further, promote

Synonym Discussion of 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

hamper

noun

Definition of hamper

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

See hamper defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of hamper from the Web

The Container Store braided water-hyacinth storage cube, $40; and round water-hyacinth hamper, $50, thecontainerstore.com.

— martha stewart, star-telegram, "Weave these decorative pieces into a room’s design naturally," 5 Aug. 2017
The labor market should be stronger with unemployment rates reportedly low, but skills needed for employment hamper opportunities.

— roger showley, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Economy in 2nd half of '17: Up, down or steady?," 30 June 2017
The two families exchanged gift hampers during their respective festivals and Razeq learnt of the similarities and differences between kosher and halal cuisine.

— anik basu, CNN, "Muslims keep alive Calcutta's Jewish schools, stores and traditions," 15 June 2017
The most striking feature of our small lives is the unavoidable, domineering presence of the plastic laundry hamper originally bought from Target in 2007.

— gene tempest, New York Times, "What No One Ever Tells You About Tiny Homes," 2 June 2017
The laundry room’s washing machine is by LG, the seagrass hamper is from Crate & Barrel and the marble wall tile is by Walker Zanger.

— peter terzian, ELLE Decor, "House Tour: A 19th-Century Farmhouse Redesigned For A Modern Family," 25 May 2017
There were also racks of children's dresses, brightly patterned pillows, and the hampers which were filled to the brim with beautiful fabric goods.

— jan lugenbuhl, NOLA.com, "Mandeville church quilters 'warm' those in need," 9 May 2017
The only hamper to an immediate green light is that the show was billed as a one-time limited series and has already worked its way through its the source material, the 2014 Liane Moriarty book of the same name.

— yohana desta, vanityfair.com, "Is Reese Witherspoon Teasing a Big Little Lies Season 2?," 8 May 2017
The only hamper to an immediate green light is that the show was billed as a one-time limited series and has already worked its way through its the source material, the 2014 Liane Moriarty book of the same name.

— yohana desta, HWD, "Is Reese Witherspoon Teasing a Big Little Lies Season 2?," 8 May 2017

Origin and Etymology of hamper

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Household Terms

cruet, curiosity, duvet, fiasco, sham, taper, valance, whatnot

HAMPER Defined for English Language Learners

hamper

play

verb

Definition of hamper for English Language Learners

: to slow the movement, progress, or action of (someone or something)

hamper

noun

Definition of hamper for English Language Learners

: a basket for food
: a basket for holding dirty clothes until they can be washed

HAMPER Defined for Kids

hamper

play

verb ham·per \ ˈham-pər \

Definition of hamper for Students

hampered; hampering

:to keep from moving or acting freely

Snow hampered traffic.

hamper

noun

Definition of hamper for Students

:a large basket usually with a cover

a clothes hamper

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hamper

Definition of hamper

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Origin and Etymology of hamper

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hamper

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