hamper

¹

[ham-per]

verb (used with object)

1. to hold back; hinder; impede.

   A steady rain hampered the progress of the work.

   Synonyms: clog, trammel, encumber, obstruct
   Antonyms: facilitate, encourage, further

2. to interfere with; curtail.

   The dancers' movements were hampered by their elaborate costumes.

noun

1. Nautical.,  gear that, although necessary to the operations of a vessel, is sometimes in the way.

hamper

²

[ham-per]

noun

1. a large basket or wickerwork receptacle, usually with a cover.

   picnic hamper;

   clothes hamper.

2. British.,  such a basket together with its contents, especially food.

hamper

¹

/ ˈhæmpə /

noun

1. a large basket, usually with a cover

2. such a basket and its contents, usually food

3. a laundry basket

hamper

²

/ ˈhæmpə /

verb

1. (tr) to prevent the progress or free movement of

noun

1. nautical gear aboard a vessel that, though essential, is often in the way

Other Word Forms

• hamperedly adverb
• hamperedness noun
• hamperer noun
• unhampered adjective
• unhampering adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hamper¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English hampren; akin to Old English hamm “enclosure,” hemm hem ¹

Origin of hamper²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English hampere, variant of hanypere hanaper

Word History and Origins

Origin of hamper¹

C14: variant of _hanaper

Origin of hamper²

C14: of obscure origin; perhaps related to Old English hamm enclosure, hemm _hem ¹

Synonym Study

See prevent.

Example Sentences

France is under pressure to pass a spending bill by an end-of-year deadline to rein in its deficit and soaring debt, but efforts have been hampered by a political crisis.

Read more on Barron's

Some have expressed concerns about how much money Microsoft is spending on the technology, since a lack of spending discipline could eventually hamper profit margins.

Read more on Barron's

In comparison, prices in Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Texas and other states hampered less by green energy initiatives are rising less than the U.S. average.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

On the other side, the fragmented opposition movement has been hampered by inherent weaknesses.

Read more on BBC

Adding scale to NBCUniversal’s studios and network “has industrial logic but low valuation, and regulatory burdens hamper a bid,” Marangi said.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• block 
• curb 
• frustrate 
• hamstring 
• hinder 
• hobble 
• hold up 
• impede 
• inconvenience 
• inhibit 
• obstruct 
• prevent 
• retard 
• stymie 
• thwart 

When To Use

What does hamper mean?

To hamper means to hold back or impede something or someone, as in The road crew hampered traffic, causing a line of cars that went back for miles.Figuratively, hamper can mean to interfere with or diminish, as in The singers practicing in the next room really hampered my ability to study.Related to this in nautical terms, a hamper is gear that is necessary but gets in the way.There is another sense of the noun hamper that comes from a different origin. This hamper is a large basket, often made of wicker (or something that looks like wicker) and having a cover. Most often, this type of hamper is associated with dirty clothes (a laundry or clothes hamper), but there are lots of things a hamper can hold, like a picnic lunch or small toys.Example: I hope this rain doesn’t end up hampering the party at all.