blockade

American  

[blo-keyd] / blɒˈkeɪd /

noun

1. the isolating, closing off, or surrounding of a place, as a port, harbor, or city, by hostile ships or troops to prevent entrance or exit.

2. any obstruction of passage or progress.

   We had difficulty in getting through the blockade of bodyguards.

3. Pathology. interruption or inhibition of a normal physiological signal, as a nerve impulse or a heart muscle–contraction impulse.

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verb (used with object)

blockades, present (3rd person singular) blockaded, past participle, past blockading present participle

1. to subject to a blockade.

blockade British  

/ blɒˈkeɪd /

noun

1. military the interdiction of a nation's sea lines of communications, esp of an individual port by the use of sea power

2. something that prevents access or progress

3. med the inhibition of the effect of a hormone or a drug, a transport system, or the action of a nerve by a drug

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verb

1. to impose a blockade on

2. to obstruct the way to

Synonym Usage

See siege.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• counterblockade
  noun
• blockader
  noun
• problockade
  adjective
• nonblockaded
  adjective
• unblockaded
  adjective
• preblockade
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has blockaded
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have blockaded
  perfect
• has been blockading
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• have been blockading
  perfect progressive
• blockades
  singular 3rd person
• is blockading
  progressive 3rd person singular
• blockading
  participle
• am blockading
  progressive 1st person singular
• are blockading
  progressive

Past

• had blockaded
  perfect
• was blockading
  progressive singular
• were blockading
  progressive plural
• blockaded
  simple
• had been blockading
  perfect progressive
• blockaded
  participle

Future

• will blockade
  simple
• will have blockaded
  perfect
• will have been blockading
  perfect progressive
• will be blockading
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of blockade

1670–80; block (in the sense “to create obstacles”) + -ade ¹

Explanation

A blockade is an obstacle that stands between you and something you're trying to reach. After a robbery, police might set up a blockade around the neighborhood to catch the thief. Anything that impedes or halts progress is a blockade. If you join the military, you might find yourself building a blockade to confine your enemies and isolate them from the outside world. If you think of the root of this word, block, then you've pretty much got the meaning right there. If you don't want your little sister to disturb the house of cards you're building in my room, you can take lots of pillows and make a fort to use as a blockade to keep her from wandering in and knocking everything over.

Example Sentences

The Blockade will remain in place, and in full force and effect, until a ‘Final Deal’ is reached.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

Appeared in the May 30, 2026, print edition as 'Ships Go ‘Dark’ to Break Blockade'.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

"The Blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified and signed," he added.

From Barron's • May 24, 2026

Blockade survivor Irina Zimneva, 85, told The Associated Press that she’s still haunted by memories of the tiny food rations distributed to residents during the deadly winter of 1941-1942.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 27, 2024

When its badinage was completed, we picked up our instruments and began to play the overture for The Blockade of Boston.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

Related Words

• barricade
• closure
• encirclement
• restriction
• roadblock
• siege
• stoppage