interfere

[ in-ter-feer ]

/ ˌɪn tərˈfɪər /

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See synonyms for: interfere / interfering on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), in·ter·fered, in·ter·fer·ing.

to come into opposition, as one thing with another, especially with the effect of hampering action or procedure (often followed bywith): Constant distractions interfere with work.

to take part in the affairs of others; meddle (often followed by with or in): to interfere in another's life.

(of things) to strike against each other, or one against another, so as to hamper or hinder action; come into physical collision.

to interpose or intervene for a particular purpose.

to strike one foot or leg against another in moving, as a horse.

Sports.

to obstruct the action of an opposing player in a way barred by the rules.
Football. to run interference for a teammate carrying the ball.

Physics. to cause interference.

to clash; come in collision; be in opposition: The claims of two nations may interfere.

Law. to claim earlier invention when several patent requests for the same invention are being filed.

Verb Phrases

interfere with, Chiefly British. to molest sexually.

OTHER WORDS FOR interfere

2 pry, intrude, encroach, interlope.

4 intercede.

See synonyms for interfere on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of interfere

1520–30; inter- + -fere<Latin ferīre to strike; modeled on Middle French s'entreferir

OTHER WORDS FROM interfere

in·ter·fer·er, nounin·ter·fer·ing·ly, adverbnon·in·ter·fer·ing, adjectivenon·in·ter·fer·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use interfere in a sentence

Zuckerberg took a moment to tout the company’s progress in disrupting more than 100 disinformation networks attempting to interfere in elections around the world.
Facebook, Google, Twitter CEOs clash with Congress in pre-election showdown|Tony Romm, Rachel Lerman, Cat Zakrzewski, Heather Kelly, Elizabeth Dwoskin|October 28, 2020|Washington Post
On the plus side, this also means no one else can interfere with your carefully curated list of songs.
The best way to share playlists on every major platform|David Nield|October 8, 2020|Popular-Science
Fiction, and especially science fiction set in the future, is easily taken in by the scientific community as a kind of a modeling exercise that is personalized, speculative, and useful for its examination of interlocking and interfering effects.
Kim Stanley Robinson Holds Out Hope - Issue 90: Something Green|Liz Greene|October 7, 2020|Nautilus
The Department of Justice has weakened its long-standing prohibition against interfering in elections, according to two department officials.
DOJ Frees Federal Prosecutors to Take Steps That Could Interfere With Elections, Weakening Long-standing Policy|by Robert Faturechi and Justin Elliott|October 7, 2020|ProPublica

He denied that his arrest and conviction had interfered with his work.
Maine Hires Lawyers With Criminal Records to Defend Its Poorest Residents|by Samantha Hogan, The Maine Monitor, with data analysis by Agnel Philip|October 6, 2020|ProPublica
I believe that my case is being interfered with by unknown elements inside Iran.
An American Marine in Iran’s Prisons Goes on Hunger Strike|IranWire|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Paxman suspects that former British Home Secretary Michael Howard had interfered in an internal civil-service disciplinary matter.
David Frost and the Art of the Interview|David Frum|September 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Even in a period of potential hope, political tensions interfered with small steps towards normalcy between the two nations.
When Prisoner Releases and Direct Negotiations Aren’t Enough|Aaron Magid|August 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The insider said: "They were always well-matched but circumstances beyond their control interfered in their relationship."
Pippa Middleton Rekindles Romance With Old Flame Alex Loudon|Tom Sykes|July 1, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The president said his lawyers had concluded the provisions interfered with his constitutional duties to carry out foreign policy.
Obama Embraces Signing Statements After Knocking Bush for Using Them|Eli Lake|January 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Where these overtones are interfered with by any imperfection in the instrument the result is a harsh or imperfect sound.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
Native women were not interfered with by either party, nor were the foreigners, many of whom took refuge at the British Consulate.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
The men were about to fight when the others interfered, saying it was only fair a third party should do the pacing.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
His want of health greatly interfered with his career till he was nearly thirty years of age.
The Recent Revolution in Organ Building|George Laing Miller
“Ali Khan” was about to guide the ekka along the rough gangway when Mohammed Rasul interfered.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy

British Dictionary definitions for interfere

interfere

/ (ˌɪntəˈfɪə) /

verb (intr)

(often foll by in) to interpose, esp meddlesomely or unwarrantedly; intervene

(often foll by with) to come between or in opposition; hinder; obstruct

(foll by with) euphemistic to assault sexually

to strike one against the other, as a horse's legs

physics to cause or produce interference

Derived forms of interfere

interferer, nouninterfering, adjectiveinterferingly, adverb

Word Origin for interfere

C16: from Old French s'entreferir to collide, from entre- inter- + ferir to strike, from Latin ferīre

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

interfere

OTHER WORDS FOR interfere

Origin of interfere

OTHER WORDS FROM interfere

Words related to interfere

How to use interfere in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for interfere

Derived forms of interfere

Word Origin for interfere