1 C1 neutral
To surround a person, place, or group physically so that escape or movement is difficult.
"The enemy troops had completely hedged the village in, cutting off all supply routes."
separable
hedge in
C1 neutral separable transitive
To surround or restrict someone or something, limiting freedom of movement or action.
In plain English
To trap or limit someone so they can't move freely or make their own choices.
What does "hedge in" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic formal
To restrict someone's freedom of action through rules, conditions, or circumstances.
"The new regulations hedged the company in so tightly that expansion became almost impossible."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To enclose an area or person by planting hedges (bushes) all around them.
Actually means
To trap or limit someone so they can't move freely or make their own choices.
Usage tip
Can be used both literally (surrounded by hedges/barriers) and figuratively (restricted by rules, circumstances). The figurative use is more common in formal writing.
Words that pair with "hedge in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
regulations rules restrictions conditions army enemies
How to conjugate "hedge in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
hedge in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hedges in
he/she/it
Past simple
hedged in
yesterday
Past participle
hedged in
have + pp
-ing form
hedging in
continuous
Hear "hedge in" in the wild
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