impede
C1Formal
Definition
Meaning
To delay or stop the progress of something or someone.
To hinder or obstruct a process, movement, or action, making it slower or more difficult.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Impede" implies a more deliberate or obstructive hindrance than "delay". It often suggests physical or systematic obstacles rather than simple slowness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Slightly more formal in both varieties, commonly used in legal, academic, and technical contexts.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English in legal and business writing, but common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[transitive] NP impede NP (e.g., The debris impeded the flow of traffic.)[transitive with from] NP impede NP from V-ing (e.g., The injury impeded him from running.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Nothing impedes progress like a closed mind.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Regulatory hurdles can impede market entry for new companies.
Academic
Methodological flaws may impede the validity of the research findings.
Everyday
The fallen tree is impeding the path to the garden shed.
Technical
Friction impedes the motion of the sliding mechanism.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new regulations could impede trade with the continent.
- He found the deep snow seriously impeded his advance.
American English
- Bureaucratic red tape often impedes innovation.
- The injury did not impede her ability to lead the project.
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb form. Use 'impedingly', though rare.)
American English
- (No standard adverb form.)
adjective
British English
- (No standard adjective form. Use 'impeded' as participle adjective: 'the impeded progress')
American English
- (No standard adjective form. Use 'impeded' as participle adjective: 'an impeded view')
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The bad weather impeded our journey.
- A lack of funding can impede a project.
- Complex visa requirements may impede the free movement of skilled workers.
- The chairman's opposition could impede the committee's decision-making process.
- The prosecution argued that the defendant's actions were deliberately designed to impede the course of justice.
- Cognitive biases can subtly impede rational analysis in high-stakes negotiations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PEDestrian (from Latin 'pes' = foot) having their feet IM-Prisoned or IM-mobilised, so they cannot walk forward.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS FORWARD MOTION / IMPEDING IS BLOCKING A PATH.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation from Russian "мешать" which is broader and can mean 'to disturb' or 'to bother' in a social sense. "Impede" is more specific to hindering progress.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'impede' (verb) with 'impediment' (noun). Incorrect: 'He faced an impede.' Correct: 'He faced an impediment.'
- Using 'impede' for minor annoyances. It is for significant hindrances.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the LEAST accurate synonym for 'impede' in a formal context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The noun form is 'impediment' (e.g., a speech impediment).
It is almost always negative, as it describes stopping or slowing something, usually seen as undesirable.
Yes. You can impede a person ('The guard impeded the intruder.') or a process ('Bad weather impeded construction.').
'Impede' means to slow down or make difficult, while 'prevent' means to stop something from happening entirely.