encroaching
Americanadjective
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advancing beyond proper, accepted, or usual limits; making gradual inroads into or onto something.
We cleared out the encroaching weeds along the edge of the driveway and trimmed the plantain trees.
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trespassing on the property, domain, or rights of another, especially stealthily or gradually.
The hill forts in the British Isles were probably built by the native Britons to defend themselves against encroaching enemy tribes.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of encroaching
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Encroaching flames forced authorities to move their command post several times.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 4, 2025
Encroaching flames caused the main facility that disassembles America’s nuclear arsenal to pause operations Tuesday night, but it was open for normal work by Wednesday.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 29, 2024
Encroaching shade will also chase away tall fescues; install beds with shade-tolerant plants in those areas.
From Washington Post • Aug. 25, 2020
Encroaching flames, despite the near-constant threat of fire in the bone-dry state, presented an entirely different hazard.
From Fox News • Nov. 9, 2018
Encroaching, taking up or advancing on what belongs to another.
From A Reading Book in Irish History by Joyce, P. W.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
