hamstring

American  

[ham-string] / ˈhæmˌstrɪŋ /

noun

1. (in humans and other primates) any of the tendons that bound the ham of the knee.

2. (in quadrupeds) the great tendon at the back of the hock.

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verb (used with object)

hamstrung, hamstringing

1. to disable by cutting the hamstring or hamstrings.

   Synonyms:

   lame, hock, disable, cripple

2. to render powerless or useless; thwart.

   Their efforts were hamstrung by stubborn pride.

hamstring British  

/ ˈhæmˌstrɪŋ /

noun

1. anatomy any of the tendons at the back of the knee

2. the large tendon at the back of the hock in the hind leg of a horse, etc

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verb

1. to cripple by cutting the hamstring of

2. to ruin or thwart

hamstring Scientific  

/ hăm′strĭng′ /

1. A powerful group of muscles at the back of the thigh that arise in the hip and pelvis and insert as strong tendons behind the knee. The hamstring bends the knee and helps to straighten the hip.

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Etymology

Origin of hamstring

First recorded in 1555–65; ham ¹ + string

Explanation

Your hamstrings are groups of muscles and tendons between your hips and knees. If you pull a hamstring while running or jumping, you'll feel pain at the back of your thigh. Ouch! The hamstring muscle group is one of the most powerful in your body — attached to the knee and hip, these are the muscles and tendons that make it possible for you to run, walk, and jump. It's fairly common for athletes to injure their hamstrings and be (temporarily) immobilized. Fittingly, hamstring is also a verb meaning "render powerless." So an astronaut might complain that a lack of funding will hamstring NASA, making planned Mars voyages impossible.

Example Sentences

His Hearts strike-partner Lawrence Shankland has two more, despite the skipper missing eight league games with a hamstring tear at the start of 2026.

From BBC • May 15, 2026

Which is little compared to what else the Lakers miss with Doncic on the bench, nursing the Grade 2 hamstring strain he suffered on April 2 in Oklahoma City.

From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2026

With Luka Doncic sidelined because of a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out for three more weeks, the Lakers are still outmanned in the Western Conference semifinals despite Reaves’ recent return.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

“We have a guy that averaged 37 a game,” James said of L.A. superstar Luka Doncic, who has missed the entire postseason with a hamstring strain.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

I tried to follow his directions to the letter, but I felt a shooting pain through the front of my right quadriceps and down the back of my left hamstring.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Related Words

• debilitate
• disable
• hinder
• hobble
• immobilize
• impair
• paralyze
• weaken