impede

verb

im·​pede im-ˈpēd How to pronounce impede (audio)
impeded; impeding

transitive verb

: to interfere with or slow the progress of
impeder noun
Choose the Right Synonym for impede

hinder, impede, obstruct, block mean to interfere with the activity or progress of.

hinder stresses causing harmful or annoying delay or interference with progress.

rain hindered the climb

impede implies making forward progress difficult by clogging, hampering, or fettering.

tight clothing that impedes movement

obstruct implies interfering with something in motion or in progress by the sometimes intentional placing of obstacles in the way.

the view was obstructed by billboards

block implies complete obstruction to passage or progress.

a landslide blocked the road

Examples of impede in a Sentence

He claims that economic growth is being impeded by government regulations. The soldiers could not impede the enemy's advance.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The charges were first dropped a few weeks into President Donald Trump’s second term in part because the case would impede Adams’ ability to do his job as mayor, including cooperating with Trump’s immigration crackdown, the Justice Department’s new acting deputy attorney general wrote. Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025 Removing opportunities for public commentary could impede the department’s ability to operate in the public’s interest, according to experts who spoke with Reuters. Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 For years, that impeded how and when women’s players could start making money. Alanis Thames, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025 The detection of Newcastle disease, a viral condition often fatal to chickens, in some parts of Brazil impedes the South American nation’s ability to become a significant U.S. egg supplier, market insiders say. Vanessa Gera and Kerstin Sopke, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for impede

Word History

Etymology

Latin impedire, from in- + ped-, pes foot — more at foot

First Known Use

circa 1595, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of impede was circa 1595

Cite this Entry

“Impede.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impede. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

impede

verb
im·​pede im-ˈpēd How to pronounce impede (audio)
impeded; impeding
: to interfere with the movement or progress of
impeder noun
Etymology

from Latin impedire "to hinder, get in the way of," literally, "to bind or hold the feet of," derived from im-, in- "in, into" and ped-, pes "foot" — related to pedestrian

More from Merriam-Webster on impede

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