encroach
verb (used without object)
to advance beyond proper, established, or usual limits; make gradual inroads.
have encroached
-
present perfectof encroach.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
Such upstart trading platforms have encroached on the turf of established gambling companies by offering “event contracts” on games that are similar to traditional sports bets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2025
Human settlements have encroached paths of rivers and floodplains, both in the mountains and plains, blocking their way.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2025
Additionally, habitat loss and fragmentation due to agriculture, urbanization and infrastructure development have encroached upon rhino habitats, leaving them with limited space to roam and find food.
From Salon ● Sep. 22, 2023
The results have been stark: Land speculators have encroached deep into the rainforests, and parts of Brazil’s Amazon now emit more carbon than they capture.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2022
Her majesty would not have encroached upon another's privileges, by entering Westminster Hall, because that might be considered the king's dining room; and the queen was too well informed to pass the boundary of privilege.
From Secret History of the Court of England, from the Accession of George the Third to the Death of George the Fourth, Volume II (of 2) Including, Among Other Important Matters, Full Particulars of the Mysterious Death of the Princess Charlotte by Lady Anne Hamilton
