Impede is a verb meaning to hinder progress or obstruct a process or action. It conveys the act of creating obstacles or delays, preventing something from continuing smoothly. In usage, it often describes actions, rules, or conditions that slow or block advancement or achievement.
"The heavy rain impeded the rescue efforts."
"Rules that impede innovation can frustrate researchers."
"Construction delays impeded the delivery of essential services."
"Legal hurdles impeded the company's ability to expand overseas."
Impede derives from the Latin impedire, built from in- (toward, in, not) + impedire (to shackle, impede), literally meaning to entangle or tether in front of. The root imped- relates to a hindrance or obstacle. In English, the noun impediment shares the same Latin root, while the verb form evolved through Old French impedier before entering Middle English. The first known uses in English date from the 14th century, originally carrying the sense of tying up or restraining. Over time, impede broadened to describe any factor that slows or stops progress, including physical, legal, or bureaucratic barriers. The semantic field has consistently centered on obstacles that delay or frustrate action, rather than outright stopping permanently. Today, impede is common in formal and academic discourse, law, science, and policy discussions, often paired with verbs like hinder, obstruct, and prevent to emphasize degree and mechanism of interference.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Impede" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Impede"
-eed sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as im-PEDE, with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU /ɪmˈpiːd/. Start with a light /ɪ/ as in it, then a clear /m/ with the lips closed, followed by /piː/ as in pee, and end with a voiced /d/ in a crisp, single release. Think of 'in' + 'peed' without a pause between syllables. You’ll hear the stress on the second syllable in fluent speech.
Two common errors: (1) Misplacing stress as im-PEDE vs IM-PEDE. Correct: the stress is on the second syllable. (2) Reducing the /iː/ to a short /ɪ/ as in 'imped'. Use a long /iː/ in /ˈpiːd/. Practice by stretching the second syllable: /ɪmˈpiːd/ rather than /ˈɪm.pɪd/.
In US/UK/AU, the pronunciation remains /ɪmˈpiːd/. The key differences are rhythm and vowel quality: US may have slightly more reduced vowels elsewhere in connected speech, but the /iː/ in the second syllable remains long; end with a clear /d/. In fast speech, you might hear a lighter /d/ or a slight flapping in some dialects if adjacent to vowels, but the core is /ɪmˈpiːd/.
The difficulty lies in maintaining the long vowel /iː/ in the second syllable and the clear articulation of the final /d/ after a consonant cluster. Some speakers accidentally shorten the /iː/ or insert a stop between syllables. Focus on keeping the second syllable tense and stresse: /ɪmˈpiːd/ with a crisp /d/ release right after the long /iː/.
A unique nuance is the two-syllable structure with the stress on the second syllable and a tight /d/ at the end. Ensure the /m/ is lip-sealed before transitioning to /ˈpiː/. The sequence /mˈpiː/ should not blur into a single syllable; maintain a brief separation leading into the long vowel and final /d/.
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