Hobble
verb
To walk with difficulty, often with a limp.
He hobbled back home after spraining his ankle.
Often appears as...
- hobble along
- hobble around
verb
To restrict or limit the efficiency or effectiveness of something.
High tariffs can hobble the growth of international trade.
Often appears as...
- hobble production
- hobble growth
noun
A rope or strap used for hobbling an animal, especially a horse or a cow.
He put a hobble on the horse to keep it from escaping.
Often appears as...
- put a hobble
- tie a hobble
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To walk with difficulty, often with a limp.
He hobbled back home after spraining his ankle.
Often appears as...
- hobble along
- hobble around
verb
To restrict or limit the efficiency or effectiveness of something.
High tariffs can hobble the growth of international trade.
Often appears as...
- hobble production
- hobble growth
noun
A rope or strap used for hobbling an animal, especially a horse or a cow.
He put a hobble on the horse to keep it from escaping.
Often appears as...
- put a hobble
- tie a hobble
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Impairment
Use 'hobble' to describe someone moving with difficulty due to injury or pain.
After the marathon, exhausted runners started to hobble across the finish line.
Pro Tip 2/3Temporary State
'Hobble' often implies a temporary condition, not a permanent way of walking.
She hobbled for a few weeks after the skiing accident.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphoric Use
It can also metaphorically suggest moving slowly or with difficulty in non-physical contexts.
After the computer virus, our network was hobbling along all day.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Impairment
Use 'hobble' to describe someone moving with difficulty due to injury or pain.
After the marathon, exhausted runners started to hobble across the finish line.
Pro Tip 2/3Temporary State
'Hobble' often implies a temporary condition, not a permanent way of walking.
She hobbled for a few weeks after the skiing accident.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphoric Use
It can also metaphorically suggest moving slowly or with difficulty in non-physical contexts.
After the computer virus, our network was hobbling along all day.
Pro Tip 1/3Physical Impairment
Use 'hobble' to describe someone moving with difficulty due to injury or pain.
After the marathon, exhausted runners started to hobble across the finish line.
Pro Tip 2/3Temporary State
'Hobble' often implies a temporary condition, not a permanent way of walking.
She hobbled for a few weeks after the skiing accident.
Pro Tip 3/3Metaphoric Use
It can also metaphorically suggest moving slowly or with difficulty in non-physical contexts.
After the computer virus, our network was hobbling along all day.
Never forget "Hobble"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Alison Wright: Portraits...
still lasts to this day that she remembers me hobbling into her room saying you know tell me what I can do not what I can't do I think and get back to kayaking can you you know help me do that and she's like well you're not there yet but anyway a year and a half
Video examples
Bruce Feiler: The...
As I was going there, I was wondering, what would I say depending on what happened here. I got good news that day, and I stand here today cancer-free, walking without aid and hobbling forward.
Video examples
Alison Wright: Portraits...
still lasts to this day that she remembers me hobbling into her room saying you know tell me what I can do not what I can't do I think and get back to kayaking can you you know help me do that and she's like well you're not there yet but anyway a year and a half
Video examples
Bruce Feiler: The...
As I was going there, I was wondering, what would I say depending on what happened here. I got good news that day, and I stand here today cancer-free, walking without aid and hobbling forward.
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Patti Davis
American Celebrity
Commerce is abusive. It's very hobbling to always be saying, 'Please let me put this out, this thing I've worked on for years.' It's like a nasty parent saying, 'No! Now go to your room.' As publishing companies got bigger, you felt even less significant.
Quote examples
Ivanka Trump
American Businesswoman
The reality is I have a closet full of shoes that I don't wear because they are not comfortable, and I am not going to be hobbling between meetings. There's nothing that ruins an entrance like somebody who's uncomfortable in their shoes.
Quote examples
Bob Mortimer
English Comedian
After I had my heart operation I got really into heart stuff. I did think it would be lovely to go on 'Strictly' just so people could see I wasn't finished. But, sadly, now I couldn't because of my joints. I'd be hobbling around.
Quote examples
Tommy Lee
Musician
There was no way we were going to let this band hobble around on three legs. We chose the route that every professional actor, athlete and musician should do - leave the legend intact and bow out at the top.
Quote examples
John Ritter
American Actor
If I found a cure for a huge disease, while I was hobbling up onstage to accept the Nobel Prize they'd be playing the theme song from 'Three's Company'.
Quote examples
James Fenton
British Poet
The Mormon mission to Africa, as to other dark-skinned parts of the world, was for a long time hobbled by the racism of the movement's scripture.
Quote examples
Rick Renzi
American Politician
The home ownership process for Native Americans has been hobbled by bureaucratic delays and regulations.
Quote examples
Jessica Brown Findlay
English Actress
There's a reason hobble skirts are called hobble skirts. You literally can't move very far in them.
Quote examples
Casey Stengel
American Baseball Player
You can't go out to the mound hobbling and take a pitcher out with a cane.
Quote examples
Maia Mitchell
Australian Actress
I don't want to be that girl hobbling around in heels, falling in snow.
Quote examples
Patti Davis
American Celebrity
Commerce is abusive. It's very hobbling to always be saying, 'Please let me put this out, this thing I've worked on for years.' It's like a nasty parent saying, 'No! Now go to your room.' As publishing companies got bigger, you felt even less significant.
Quote examples
Ivanka Trump
American Businesswoman
The reality is I have a closet full of shoes that I don't wear because they are not comfortable, and I am not going to be hobbling between meetings. There's nothing that ruins an entrance like somebody who's uncomfortable in their shoes.
Quote examples
Bob Mortimer
English Comedian
After I had my heart operation I got really into heart stuff. I did think it would be lovely to go on 'Strictly' just so people could see I wasn't finished. But, sadly, now I couldn't because of my joints. I'd be hobbling around.
Quote examples
Tommy Lee
Musician
There was no way we were going to let this band hobble around on three legs. We chose the route that every professional actor, athlete and musician should do - leave the legend intact and bow out at the top.
Quote examples
John Ritter
American Actor
If I found a cure for a huge disease, while I was hobbling up onstage to accept the Nobel Prize they'd be playing the theme song from 'Three's Company'.
Quote examples
James Fenton
British Poet
The Mormon mission to Africa, as to other dark-skinned parts of the world, was for a long time hobbled by the racism of the movement's scripture.
Quote examples
Rick Renzi
American Politician
The home ownership process for Native Americans has been hobbled by bureaucratic delays and regulations.
Quote examples
Jessica Brown Findlay
English Actress
There's a reason hobble skirts are called hobble skirts. You literally can't move very far in them.
Quote examples
Casey Stengel
American Baseball Player
You can't go out to the mound hobbling and take a pitcher out with a cane.
Quote examples
Maia Mitchell
Australian Actress
I don't want to be that girl hobbling around in heels, falling in snow.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension