- 1encumber somebody/something (with something) to make it difficult for someone to do something or for something to happen The police operation was encumbered by crowds of reporters. The business is encumbered with debt.
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- 2encumber somebody/something (with something) to be large and/or heavy and make it difficult for someone to move The divers were encumbered by their equipment.
encumber
verbNAmE//ɪnˈkʌmbər//
[usually passive] (formal)Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they encumber he / she / it encumbers
past simple encumbered
-ing form encumbering
Check pronunciation: encumber