impede his progress

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "impede his progress" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing obstacles or challenges that hinder someone's advancement or development in a particular area. Example: "The unexpected challenges in the project timeline may impede his progress towards meeting the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Injury kept him out of that summer's engagement with the Australians, and injuries have continued to impede his progress.

The Guardian - Sport

As for almighty flow, how much of it is there in soccer when players surround a referee after a debatable goal or red card and impede his progress as they harass and question him?

The New York Times - Sports

He will immediately confront a host of institutional obstacles that could impede his progress in rebuilding an archdiocese shattered by last year's disclosures that its leaders had permitted a generation of sexually abusive priests to molest young people.

The New York Times

In 1983, five years after being drafted in the 18th round, he made his major league debut, but All-Stars continued to impede his progress — Andre Dawson, Tim Wallach, Tim Raines.

The New York Times - Sports

When the inevitable Chinese protest was made, however, the track referee studied the replay and decided that the manner in which Robles' right hand halted Liu's momentum was the kind of technique outlawed under rule 163.2 of the International Association of Athletics Federations, which disqualifies "any athlete who jostles or obstructs another athlete so as to impede his progress".

Independent

That makes the incident sound a little more dramatic than it actually was: Götze threw himself to the ground in the end, though as the Portugal right-back was clearly using his arms to impede his progress he was probably entitled to do so.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Injuries and a talent-rich Diamondbacks organization impeded his progress".

The New York Times

Collin's challenge in the box clipped Drogba's leg, thus impeding his progress towards net.

The Guardian - Sport

Minaya acknowledged that Alou, after playing in his only game in Florida last Tuesday, felt soreness in his left calf that impeded his progress.

The New York Times - Sports

Specialist defenders who face him several times a season — like San Antonio's Bruce Bowen and Houston's Shane Battier — are more in tune with Bryant's sequence and stand a chance of at least impeding his progress.

The New York Times - Sports

In a well-observed set-piece, we see the magician, who has had a bit too much whisky, trying to step over the diminutive landlord of his hotel, who is forever impeding his progress on the stairs.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing barriers to personal or professional growth, "impede his progress" offers a formal and precise way to describe the obstruction. Use it to emphasize the act of hindering someone's forward movement.

Common error

While "impede his progress" is grammatically correct, avoid using it in very casual conversations. Opt for simpler words like "hinder" or "block" to maintain a natural tone. Using "impede" in informal settings may sound overly formal or stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impede his progress" functions as a verb phrase with a possessive pronoun and a noun. It describes the act of hindering or obstructing someone's advancement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "impede his progress" is a grammatically correct way to describe hindering someone's advancement. Ludwig AI confirms this. It is most frequently found in news and media sources and is considered to be neutral to professional in register. While it's a valid phrase, consider your audience and context to ensure it's the most effective choice. For more casual scenarios, simpler words like "hinder" or "block" may be more appropriate. There are many suitable alternatives if you wish to convey this meaning with a different tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hinder his advancement

Replaces "impede" with "hinder" and "progress" with "advancement", keeping the core meaning intact.

obstruct his development

Substitutes "impede" with "obstruct" and "progress" with "development", focusing on growth.

block his advancement

Uses "block" as a more direct synonym for "impede", emphasizing a complete stop.

slow his advancement

Emphasizes reducing the speed rather than completely stopping progress.

delay his progress

Focuses on postponing or deferring advancement.

inhibit his development

Replaces "impede" with "inhibit", suggesting a restraining effect on development.

hamper his advancement

Uses "hamper" to suggest making progress more difficult.

thwart his progress

Indicates actively preventing success or fulfillment.

retard his development

Implies a slowing down or hindering of normal development.

obstruct his path

Metaphorically describes impeding progress as blocking someone's route.

FAQs

What does "impede his progress" mean?

The phrase "impede his progress" means to hinder, obstruct, or slow down someone's advancement or development. It implies that something is preventing him from moving forward as expected.

What are some alternatives to "impede his progress"?

You can use alternatives like "hinder his advancement", "obstruct his development", or "slow his advancement" depending on the specific context.

How can I use "impede his progress" in a sentence?

You can use "impede his progress" in a sentence like this: "The constant interruptions significantly impeded his progress on the project." or "Lack of funding could impede his progress in finding a cure."

Is "impede his progress" formal or informal?

"Impede his progress" is considered a more formal phrase. In informal settings, simpler alternatives like "hinder his advancement" or "block his development" might be more appropriate.