What does impede mean?
Word: Impede
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Impede means to slow something down or get in its way so that it is harder to move forward.
Synonyms: hinder, hamper, obstruct, block
Antonyms: help, aid
How do you spell impede?
Syllables: im - pede
Tricky part: The ending is -ede, not -eed or -ead. Only one e follows the d.
Watch out for: impead, impeed, impeede
Memory tip: Ped means foot in Latin: a stone in your shoe impedes your feet, and the word keeps that ped.
Impede in a sentence
Example 1: A broken lift impeded our move to the tenth-floor flat.
Example 2: Talking during the test will only impede your own concentration.
Example 3: Thick weeds in the canal impede the flow of water to the fields.
Fun Fact
Impede has a longer cousin, impediment, which means something that gets in the way, as in a speech impediment.
Practise the CREST Way
Sound Check
Which of the following words rhymes with the given word?
impede
a) instead
b) spread
c) ahead
d) succeed
Show answer
d) succeed. Succeed ends in the long 'eed' sound of impede; instead, ahead and spread all have the short e of bed.
Spellacadabra
Choose the misspelt word:
a) impose
b) impress
c) inpede
d) impart
Show answer
c) inpede. Impede starts with im because a p follows.
Word Puzzle
Match each word in the first list with the right word in the second list:
1. impede 2. vanish 3. shallow a. appear b. assist c. deep
a) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
b) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
c) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
d) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
Show answer
c) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c. Opposites again: impede and assist, vanish and appear, shallow and deep.
Word Tally
Give 2 marks for each misspelt word. What is the total?
impede, obstical, barrier, blokage, delay, hurdle
a) 4
b) 8
c) 6
d) 2
Show answer
a) 4. Obstacle ends in -acle and blockage keeps the ck of block, so two words are wrong: 2 x 2 = 4.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. What could impede a runner in a race?
a) a cheering crowd
b) a sprained ankle
c) a cool breeze
d) new running shoes
Show answer
b) a sprained ankle
2. Rahul's heavy schoolbag impeded his climb up the stairs. How did the bag affect him?
a) It made the climb harder.
b) It kept him warm.
c) It helped him go faster.
d) It made no difference.
Show answer
a) It made the climb harder.
