invade

[in-veyd]

verb (used with object)

invaded, invading 

1. to enter forcefully as an enemy; go into with hostile intent.

   Germany invaded Poland in 1939.

   Synonyms: attack, penetrate

2. to enter like an enemy.

   Locusts invaded the fields.

   Synonyms: attack, penetrate

3. to enter as if to take possession.

   to invade a neighbor's home.

4. to enter and affect injuriously or destructively, as disease.

   viruses that invade the bloodstream.

5. to intrude upon.

   to invade the privacy of a family.

6. to encroach or infringe upon.

   to invade the rights of citizens.

7. to permeate.

   The smell of baking invades the house.

8. to penetrate; spread into or over.

   The population boom has caused city dwellers to invade the suburbs.

verb (used without object)

invaded, invading 

1. to make an invasion.

   troops awaiting the signal to invade.

invade

/ ɪnˈveɪd /

verb

1. to enter (a country, territory, etc) by military force

2. (tr) to occupy in large numbers; overrun; infest

3. (tr) to trespass or encroach upon (privacy, etc)

4. (tr) to enter and spread throughout, esp harmfully; pervade

5. (of plants, esp weeds) to become established in (a place to which they are not native)

Other Word Forms

• invader noun
• invadable adjective
• quasi-invaded adjective
• reinvade verb (used with object)
• uninvadable adjective
• uninvaded adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of invade¹

First recorded in 1485–95; from Latin invādere, from in- in- ² + vādere “to go, walk” ( wade )

Word History and Origins

Origin of invade¹

C15: from Latin invādere, from vādere to go

Example Sentences

Western governments — including some of Israel’s most loyal supporters — castigated the decision to invade, with Germany’s foreign minister slamming it as “the completely wrong path” and France saying the campaign had “no military logic.”

From Los Angeles Times

When the exercise was over, instead of returning home Russian troops invaded neighbouring Ukraine from the territory of Belarus.

From BBC

If he did, he might reach out to political adversaries with an olive branch, instead of invading American cities with the military.

From Salon

But the implication was clear: The administration was preparing to invade the city, and this was their final warning.

From Salon

If sense of reason were part of his crime-fighting quotient, his troops would be invading the metro areas with the highest number of murders per capita — New Orleans first, then Memphis, Tenn., and St. Louis.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• breach 
• infect 
• infest 
• loot 
• occupy 
• overrun 
• penetrate 
• pillage 
• plunder 
• raid 
• ravage 
• storm 
• violate