hem in
Third Person
hems in
Present Participle
hemming in
Past Tense
hemmed in
Past Participle
hemmed in
1
to encircle someone or something in a way that restricts their movement or choices
transitive
- The construction site was hemmed in by tall fences for safety.
- The rocky terrain hemmed in the explorers, making progress difficult.
- The crowded city streets hemmed in the delivery truck, causing delays.
- The fence was used to hem the livestock in, preventing them from wandering.
- The dense fog hemmed the hikers in, reducing visibility and making it challenging to find the trail.
2
to restrict someone by enclosing them in a way that limits their movement or freedom
transitive
- The soldiers hemmed in the enemy, cutting off all possible escape routes.
- The protesters were hemmed in by the police barriers on all sides.
- The crowd hemmed in the celebrity, making it difficult for her to move.
- The constant surveillance hemmed him in, leaving him no privacy or freedom.
- The strict rules hemmed her in, limiting her ability to express herself.
Synonyms: