infringe
Americanverb (used with object)
-
infringes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
infringed,
past participle, past
-
infringing
present participle
verb (used without object)
-
infringes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
infringed,
past participle, past
-
infringing
present participle
verb
-
(tr) to violate or break (a law, an agreement, etc)
-
(intr; foll by on or upon) to encroach or trespass
Synonym Usage
See trespass.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
infringesimple
-
infringessimple
-
have infringedperfect
-
has infringedperfect
-
am infringingprogressive
-
are infringingprogressive
-
is infringingprogressive
-
have been infringingperfect progressive
-
has been infringingperfect progressive
Past
-
infringedsimple
-
had infringedperfect
-
was infringingprogressive
-
were infringingprogressive
-
had been infringingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of infringe
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin infringere “to break, weaken,” equivalent to in- in- 2 + -fringere, combining form of frangere “to break”; akin to break
Explanation
When you infringe on someone's space, time, or rights, you're getting involved in a way that is not cool. That's why, when you violate a copyright, you're said to infringe upon it. Infringe is almost always used with the prepositions "on" or "upon," as in, "if you infringe on my rights, I'll sue you." Nobody knows why that's the case. Our language is full of rules and traditions that just are the way they are. We call these phrases "idiomatic." To infringe "on" or "upon" something is one of those. You don't infringe "into" someone's conversation. You infringe "upon" it. Case closed.
Vocabulary lists containing infringe
The Bill of Rights
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
List 6
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Vocabulary from The Articles of Confederation
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
“Suno’s business model was admittedly and clearly: infringe now, make billions by being the first mover, and try to settle on the cheap later,” the complaint states.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2026
But when the law was passed, state minister Pankaj Bhoyar said it did not infringe upon the right to change religion.
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
He added, “These deprivations, while grievous, do not infringe upon any deeply rooted constitutional right.”
From Salon ● Sep. 12, 2026
From what you’re saying, this won’t infringe upon your values and would make you a more efficient worker.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026
“This little treasure is all mine, gentlemen and ladies. Please, I beg you. Do not infringe on my discovery ” “Mr. Remorso,” said Despereaux.
From "The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread" by Kate DiCamillo
This infringes Tsuda's so-called publicity rights -- the ability to control and profit from the use of aspects of one's identity -- his attorneys said.
From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026
Sony and Universal also filed a new lawsuit last week alleging that Suno’s latest model still infringes on their copyrighted works.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
Civil-rights lawyers and former DHS staffers see it differently and say the system infringes free speech.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
However, in Skrmetti, the court denied a petition by minors and their parents that argued the ban also infringes on parental rights protected under the due process clause.
From Slate ● Aug. 13, 2025
He works His own purpose out of a tough tangled network of contrary purposes; but in doing it never infringes upon man's liberty of action.
From Quiet Talks about Jesus by S. D. (Samuel Dickey) Gordon
The group's co-founder Huda Ammori has legally challenged the ban, arguing it was "disproportionate" and infringed human rights.
From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2026
In Friday's verdict, external, jurors did not find that Apple had infringed the patents in question willingly.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
Ireland’s Data Protection Commission said Monday that Google infringed the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation following a 2020 investigation into the company.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Some felt it infringed on their sense of nostalgia.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026
But each such error reflected negatively on his parents’ guidance and infringed on the community’s sense of order and success.
From "The Giver" by Lois Lowry
Eight Mile Style accuses the AI company of similar infringing activity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 9, 2026
Charles Rivkin, the chairman and chief executive of the Motion Picture Association, called on ByteDance to "immediately cease its infringing activity," accusing it of disregarding copyright law that protects creators and underpins millions of jobs.
From Barron's ● Apr. 24, 2026
MPA’s CEO, Charles Rivkin, wrote in a statement that the company “should immediately cease its infringing activity.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2026
Novo Nordisk is seeking court orders declaring that Hims & Hers are infringing on Novo Nordisk’s patent, blocking the sale of infringing products, plus monetary damages.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 9, 2026
But I can’t say that gratitude was my motive for infringing on the Law of Cultural Embargo.
From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
