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

• invadable adjective
• invader noun
• 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

More and more Team USA red invaded the board and the possibility of the biggest comeback in Ryder Cup history became quite real.

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China’s leaders have vowed to absorb Taiwan by force if necessary, and U.S. officials say the Chinese military has been instructed to be ready to invade the democratically self-ruled island by 2027.

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In the U.S., foreign mussels are wreaking havoc in the Great Lakes, invasive fungi are threatening trees in Hawaii and non-native carp are invading rivers and lakes.

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In the Cold War, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and doubled down on global revolution even while benefiting from the detente era’s liberalized trade.

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After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, she feared that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would follow.

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Related Words

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