hamstring

American  

[ham-string] / ˈhæmˌstrɪŋ /

noun

hamstrings plural

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)

hamstrings, present (3rd person singular) hamstrung, past participle, past hamstringing present participle

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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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• hamstrings
  plural

Participles

• hamstringing
  present
• hamstrung
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• hamstring
  simple
• hamstrings
  simple
• have hamstrung
  perfect
• has hamstrung
  perfect
• am hamstringing
  progressive
• are hamstringing
  progressive
• is hamstringing
  progressive
• have been hamstringing
  perfect progressive
• has been hamstringing
  perfect progressive

Past

• hamstrung
  simple
• had hamstrung
  perfect
• was hamstringing
  progressive
• were hamstringing
  progressive
• had been hamstringing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will hamstring
  simple
• will have hamstrung
  perfect
• will be hamstringing
  progressive
• will have been hamstringing
  perfect progressive

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

But since that World Cup, he has struggled so much with irregular form and persistent hamstring injuries that he was in danger of being left at home.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

Pentagon officials say fears are misplaced because weapons aren’t fully autonomous—and letting technophobia hamstring commanders’ use of AI poses a bigger risk.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

Teoscar Hernández, who is currently out with a hamstring injury, is scheduled to take live batting practice on Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2026

The 26-year-old missed nine games for Chelsea at the end of the season because of a hamstring injury.

From BBC • Jun. 16, 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