impede

USAGE SUMMARY

'impede' is a valid word in written English.
You can use it to mean 'block' or 'hinder' the progress of something. For example, "The poor weather conditions impeded the hikers on their journey to the summit."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Hollywood film U-571 (2000), in which the Royal Navy's capture of an Enigma machine during the second world war is falsely attributed to an American crew (including chief engineer Jon Bon Jovi), was denounced in parliament by prime minister Tony Blair.

The Guardian - Film

U Myint Aye, aged 61, from Yangon, has a long track record of peaceful political activism.

The Guardian

Referring back to her iconic look in the Nothing Compares 2 U video – a huge international hit written by Prince – O'Connor admitted that she was asked by her label to reconsider her image for the 1990s video.

The Guardian - Music

In Britain, the US and France the top 1% have over the past 100 years seen their fortunes rise and fall and rise again in a U-shaped arc.

The Guardian - Business

Of these, Brundage sa id 85% – almost 600,000 – are unemployed even though many of them are employable.

The Guardian - Business

"This time it was União da Madeira, his eighth promotion, from the second division to the first tier (or seventh if we exclude last year as he was sacked before the end of the season): P. Ferreira 90-91, Académica 96-97, U. Leiria 97-98, Belenenses 98-99, Leixões 06-07, Arouca 12-13, Moreirense 13-14 and U. Madeira 14-15.

The Guardian - Sport

The U-6 number is around 13%, Yellen says.

The Guardian - Business

But on Thursday at an EU summit in Brussels, Luxembourg performed a U-turn and promised to hand over all the tax rulings to the commission after Vestager announced she was extending her inquiry to all 28 EU countries.

The Guardian

Indeed the pressure became so intense over the past 72 hours that the government was forced into an embarrassing U-turn over plans to cut allowances for younger disabled people in the republic.

The Guardian

"I guess it hurts 2 have the producers tell u to ur face that nicki is the best judge we've had since simon [cowell]," the rapper further tweeted.

The Guardian - Music

Amnesty is calling for the immediate release of Burmese human rights activist U Myint Aye, who is serving a life sentence for his alleged involvement in planning a bomb attack in the Shwepyitha Township in Yangon on 1 July 2008.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Remember to provide context when using "impede"; clarify what is being impeded and what is causing the impediment to ensure clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "impede" in casual conversations or informal writing where simpler words like "hinder" or "block" would be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "impede" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what is being hindered or obstructed. Ludwig AI confirms its use in expressing hindrance, though examples are currently limited.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "impede" functions as a transitive verb used to express the act of slowing down or obstructing something. While Ludwig AI identifies its usage, the absence of examples suggests it may be less common or used in more specific contexts. It is most appropriate for formal and scientific writing, where a sophisticated vocabulary is valued. Consider synonyms like "hinder" or "obstruct" for broader applications. The "aiResponseStatus" confirms grammatical correctness but highlights the need for contextual awareness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hinder

A direct synonym, focusing on making something difficult.

obstruct

Suggests a more forceful blocking or preventing of progress.

hamper

Implies slowing down or restricting movement or progress.

thwart

Indicates successfully preventing someone's plans from succeeding.

inhibit

Suggests restraining or preventing an action or process.

curtail

Focuses on reducing or restricting something.

slow down

A more informal way to express making something take longer.

block

A general term for preventing movement or progress.

restrain

Highlights the act of holding something back or controlling it.

encumber

Suggests burdening someone or something, making progress difficult.

FAQs

How to use "impede" in a sentence?

"Impede" means to delay or prevent someone or something by obstructing them; you can use alternatives like "hinder" or "obstruct" depending on the context.

What can I say instead of "impede"?

You can use alternatives like "hinder", "obstruct", or "hamper" to convey similar meanings.

Which is correct, "impede" or "prevent"?

Both "impede" and "prevent" are correct but have slightly different nuances. "Impede" suggests slowing down or obstructing, while "prevent" implies stopping something altogether.

What's the difference between "impede" and "obstruct"?

"Obstruct" implies a more direct and forceful blocking, while "impede" suggests a slowing down or making something more difficult but not necessarily impossible.