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

A study commissioned by Uefa, published in 2023, found what it described as a "worrying" increase in rates of hamstring injury over the preceding eight seasons.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026

He was absent from the March internationals with a hamstring strain, however is hoping to be fit for some of the World Cup, which would be a massive boost for his country.

From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026

For hamstring stretches, one person lies on the grass on his back with his leg straight up, while the other person leans in and slowly presses the leg a little higher.

From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner

Related Words

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