hamper

¹ American  

[ham-per] / ˈhæm pər /

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 American  

[ham-per] / ˈhæm pər /

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 British  

/ 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 British  

/ 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

Usage

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.

Related Words

See prevent.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

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

Explanation

Anything that hampers slows progress or makes it difficult to do something. You might think that the presence of your parents hampers your ability to look cool. The verb hamper is for those times when normal progress is slow but not shut down completely. Hamper often describes travel during bad weather, like icy conditions that could hamper holiday travel. Hamper means "slow going." You may have heard of noun form of hamper, a container for holding dirty laundry: If your hamper is full, the need to do laundry could hamper your plans of going out and having fun.

Example Sentences

And as companies increasingly turn to external financing to pay for the ongoing AI buildout, higher yields could hamper some companies’ ability to finance new data centers.

From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026

Missing fairways did not hamper McNealy too much, however.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

But the proposal is fiercely opposed by rail operators -- often publicly-run national champions -- which could hamper its chances to become law as it is.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

We will need more of this factual, honest analysis if we are to win the AI race and push back against scarcity narratives that hamper innovation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

As Mary Alice and I scrambled aboard, Grandma heaved up a picnic hamper for us.

From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck

Related Words

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