WordValeimpede
to obstruct or slow progress
In more detail
1. (verb) to make something difficult or slow to happen; to obstruct or block progress
2. (verb) to slow someone or something down physically
Examples
- 1. Heavy traffic impeded our journey to the airport.
- 2. The large rocks impeded the flow of water downstream.
How to use impede
Impede is a formal verb meaning to create obstacles or delays to progress, either abstractly (impede an investigation) or physically (impede traffic flow). It is slightly more formal than hinder and emphasizes obstruction rather than merely making something harder; it often suggests structural or systematic blocking rather than minor difficulty.
Common phrases
- impede progress
- impede movement
- impede access
- impede development
- impede growth
Synonyms
obstruct · hinder · hamper · slow down · block
Opposites
facilitate · assist · promote
Word family
impedance · impediment · impeditive
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse impede with impeach; impede means to obstruct progress, while impeach means to challenge or formally accuse, particularly of a political official.
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