interpose
Americanverb (used with object)
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to place between; cause to intervene.
to interpose an opaque body between a light and the eye.
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to put (a barrier, obstacle, etc.) between or in the way of.
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to put in (a remark, question, etc.) in the midst of a conversation, discourse, or the like.
- Synonyms:
- interject
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to bring (influence, action, etc.) to bear between parties, or on behalf of a party or person.
verb
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to put or place between or among other things
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to introduce (comments, questions, etc) into a speech or conversation; interject
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to exert or use power, influence, or action in order to alter or intervene in (a situation)
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of interpose
From the Middle French word interposer, dating back to 1590–1600. See inter-, pose 1
Explanation
It's annoying when advertisers interpose commercials between segments of your favorite TV show. To interpose is to interrupt by placing something in between other things. If you look closely at the word interpose, you'll see inter, which means "between," and pose, which means "position." Don't think of this only in the physical sense though. It can also mean "interject," or say quickly, and also "get involved in." If you want to interpose when another person interposes himself between you and your friend in a long queue, you might interpose, "Hey, no cutting!"
Vocabulary lists containing interpose
Lord of the Flies
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Julius Caesar
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1984
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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.
Critics mocked the former president online, with some leaping to point out that he also incorrectly used "interpose" in his excuse.
From Salon • Feb. 15, 2024
But those who try to interpose the regime in the most personal aspects of people’s lives, including the choice of what to wear, run different kinds of risks.
From Seattle Times • Sep. 28, 2022
Washington’s diplomatic goal, although it hasn’t been stated publicly this way, is to encourage China to interpose itself between the United States and North Korea and organize negotiations to de-nuclearize the Korean Peninsula.
From Washington Post • Aug. 8, 2017
According to longstanding judicial precedent, Congress must clearly articulate its intent to interpose itself between a state and its political subdivisions.
From The Wall Street Journal • Aug. 10, 2016
The kindly inspector with the granite face must have thought he had been indulgent enough, for he stepped forward to brush away Cecilia’s hand and interpose himself.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
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.
