hamper

Language: en

🇬🇧 /ˈhæmpə/ 🇺🇸 /ˈhæmpɜr/

📖 Definitions

  1. verb
    To hinder or impede the movement, progress, or action of someone or something.
  2. noun
    A large basket with a lid, used for carrying food, laundry, or other items.; A container used for holding dirty laundry before washing.; A gift basket containing food and drink items, often given as a present, especially at Christmas.; Essential gear or equipment, especially on a ship.

🔗 Details

Word forms

countable Plural: hampers 3rd sing.: hampers Past: hampered Past part.: hampered Pres part.: hampering

Collocations

picnic hamperlaundry hamperhamper effortshamper progresshamper growthhamper development

Derivatives

unhamperedhampered

Synonyms

hinderimpedeobstructinhibitrestrainbasket

Antonyms

facilitateaidassist

Commonly confused

hinder
EN: 'Hinder' emphasizes delaying or preventing progress, while 'hamper' emphasizes making an activity more difficult or cumbersome.
hamper
EN: As a noun, 'hamper' means a large lidded basket; as a verb, it means to impede—these two senses are etymologically unrelated.

Spelling tips

EN: No common spelling issues. Note that the noun (basket) and verb (impede) senses have different etymological origins despite identical spelling.

💬 Examples

  1. The heavy rain hampered the rescue efforts throughout the night.

  2. She packed a picnic hamper with sandwiches, fruit, and a bottle of wine.

  3. Please put your dirty clothes in the hamper instead of leaving them on the floor.

  4. The company sent each employee a Christmas hamper filled with gourmet treats.

  5. The sailors stowed the ship's hamper below deck before the storm hit.