Word
hinder
Phoneticshin·der, stress on the first syllable
/ˈhɪndɝ/
Definitions
01to obstruct or delay
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make it harder for someone to do something or to slow down a process.
v. to create an obstacle that impedes progress or makes an action difficult to complete. Transitive, requiring a direct object.
“The heavy rain will hinder our progress as we try to drive up the mountain.”
“High interest rates and a lack of skilled labour continue to hinder the growth of small businesses in the region.”
Antonyms
02the buttocks
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Slang · Humorous · American English
n. a polite or funny way to talk about a person's bottom.
n. a euphemistic or slang term for the buttocks.
“He fell right on his hinder after slipping on the ice.”
“The comedian made a lighthearted joke about his aging hinder, much to the amusement of the older audience members.”
03at the back
C1 · Advanced Formal · Technical
adj. relating to the back part of something.
adj. situated at the rear or back. Usually non-gradable.
“The animal has strong hinder legs that help it jump very high.”
“The researcher noted a distinct marking on the hinder portion of the specimen's shell, which distinguished it from similar species.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “hinder” in context.
Verb
01. hinder development
“A lack of funding can seriously hinder development in the rural education sector.”
verb + noun
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. Often used in the passive voice ('to be hindered by').
Pitfall
The rain hindered from us leaving.
The rain hindered us from leaving.
When used with 'from', the verb still requires a direct object before the prepositional phrase.
Real-World Examples
“Each day they make decisions that can help or hinder a family to understand how their relative died.” “My team’s recent research in rural Appalachia has found several ways that extreme weather is further hindering social activities.” Etymology
From Middle English hindren, from Old English hindrian, from Proto-Germanic hindrōną, hinderōną (“to hinder”), from Proto-Germanic *hinder (“back”) (adverb). Cognate with Dutch hinderen and German hindern, Latin contra (“back, against”).
Inherited from Middle English hinder, comparative form of hind: more hind.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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