Cool MateBlock the doorway vs Hinder
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Block the doorway
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Hinder
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B1verb
| Block the doorway | Hinder | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //blɒk ðə ˈdɔːweɪ//🇺🇸 //blɑk ði ˈdɔrweɪ// | 🇬🇧 //ˈhɪndər//🇺🇸 //ˈhɪndər// |
| Meaning | Stop people from entering through the door. | To make something difficult or slow down progress. |
| Example | Please block the doorway so nobody can come in. | The heavy rain will hinder our ability to drive safely. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | block access, block entry, blockade the doorway, block the exit, physically block the doorway | hinder progress, hinder development, hinder efforts |
| Antonyms | - | assist, help, facilitate |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'block off' which means to close completely., Used inappropriately in formal writing., Omitting the object, saying just 'block' instead. | Confusing with 'prevent', which means to stop something completely., Using 'hinder' without an object, which makes it grammatically incorrect., Overusing in casual conversation; it's better suited for formal writing. |
| Usage notes | Use in contexts where you want to prevent entry. Avoid in formal situations or if the action is to keep someone safe. | Commonly used in both formal and informal contexts to describe obstacles or setbacks. Avoid using for minor inconveniences. |
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Frequently asked questions: Block the doorway vs Hinder
What's the difference between Block the doorway and Hinder?
Block the doorway: Stop people from entering through the door. Hinder: To make something difficult or slow down progress.
Can you show an example of each?
Block the doorway: Please block the doorway so nobody can come in. Hinder: The heavy rain will hinder our ability to drive safely.
Can I use Block the doorway and Hinder interchangeably?
Not always. Block the doorway and Hinder are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.