encumber

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɪnˈkʌmbə(ɹ)/ See IPA manual

Freq #148416

Meanings

1

verb
To weigh someone down or make movement difficult with a heavy load.

The hikers were encumbered with heavy packs on the steep trail.
2

verb
To hold something back or get in its way; to hinder.

He had never encumbered himself with a family or a mortgage.
3

verb
To burden property with a legal claim or debt.

The estate was heavily encumbered with unpaid loans.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · to hold something back or... restrain hinder

Opposites

disencumber unencumber unload

Word family

Forms encumberedencumberingencumbersincumbered

Derived forms encumbererencumberment encumbranceencumbrousoverencumberunencumberable

Related forms cumber cumbersome incumbrance unencumber

Etymology

From Middle English encombren, from Old French encombrer, from en- + combrer (“to hinder”); see cumber. By surface analysis, en- + cumber.

encombren Middle English encombrer Old French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# encumber

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˈkʌmbə(ɹ)/
**Frequency rank:** 148416

## Meanings
1. To weigh someone down or make movement difficult with a heavy load.
2. To hold something back or get in its way; to hinder.
3. To burden property with a legal claim or debt.

## Examples
- The hikers were encumbered with heavy packs on the steep trail.
- He had never encumbered himself with a family or a mortgage.
- The estate was heavily encumbered with unpaid loans.

## Antonyms
- disencumber
- unencumber
- unload

## Derived Forms
- encumberer
- encumberment
- encumbrance
- encumbrous
- overencumber
- unencumberable

## Related Forms
- cumber
- cumbersome
- incumbrance
- unencumber

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: encombren
- Root: encombrer

## Etymology
From Middle English encombren, from Old French encombrer, from en- + combrer (“to hinder”); see cumber. By surface analysis, en- + cumber.

## AI Etymology
Encumber is from Middle English encombren, from Old French encombrer, from en- + combrer (“to hinder”); see cumber. By surface analysis, en- + cumber. In present-day use, it can mean to weigh someone down or make movement difficult with a heavy load, or to hold something back or get in its way; to hinder. Derived formations include encumberer, encumberment, encumbrance, encumbrous, and overencumber.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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