hamstring

1 of 2

noun

ham·​string ˈham-ˌstriŋ 

1

a

: either of two groups of tendons at the back of the human knee

b

: any of three muscles at the back of the thigh that function to flex and rotate the leg and extend the thigh

2

: a large tendon above and behind the hock of a quadruped

hamstring

2 of 2

verb

hamstrung ˈham-ˌstrəŋ  ; hamstringing ˈham-ˌstriŋ-iŋ  ; hamstrings

transitive verb

1

: to make ineffective or powerless : disable

hamstrung by guilt

2

: to deprive of the use of a leg by cutting the leg tendons

Synonyms

Verb

• cripple
• disable
• immobilize
• incapacitate
• paralyze
• prostrate

Examples of hamstring in a Sentence

Verb

The mayor tried to hamstring our efforts by cutting the budget.

The company claims it is being hamstrung by government regulations.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Limited at Friday’s practice with a hamstring injury and listed as questionable on the official injury report, Pickens was a late scratch 90 minutes before the game when the inactives were announced. —Mike Defabo, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024

Towns’ injury isn’t believed to be a long-term concern, and Achiuwa should see his minutes ramp up after making his season debut on Friday after a preseason hamstring injury. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Dec. 2024

Verb

City Hall also used the one-time funds to expand staff, which Williams said could hamstring the city once the dollars are gone. —Mikenzie Frost, Baltimore Sun, 12 Nov. 2024

The first season is a slog, built around a good idea — how a TV network reacts to a Me Too scandal — that was executed poorly and hamstrung by a weak Steve Carell performance as a Matt Lauer stand-in. —Joe Reid, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

hamstring

1 of 2 noun

ham·​string ˈham-ˌstriŋ 

1

: either of two groups of tendons at the back of the human knee

2

: any of three muscles at the back of the thigh that function to extend the thigh, rotate the leg, and bend the knee

hamstring

2 of 2 verb

hamstrung

-ˌstrəŋ

; hamstringing

-ˌstriŋ-iŋ

1

: to cripple by cutting the leg tendons

2

: to make ineffective or powerless : cripple

hamstrung by restrictions

Medical Definition

hamstring

1 of 2 noun

ham·​string ˈham-ˌstriŋ 

1

a

: either of two groups of tendons bounding the upper part of the popliteal space at the back of the knee and forming the tendons of insertion of some muscles of the back of the thigh

b

: hamstring muscle

2

: a large tendon above and behind the hock of a quadruped corresponding to the human Achilles tendon

hamstring

2 of 2 transitive verb

hamstrung -ˌstrəŋ  ; hamstringing -ˌstriŋ-iŋ 

: to cripple by cutting the leg tendons

folklore has it that wolf packs try to hamstring their prey

—John Madson