interpose

American  

[in-ter-pohz] / ˌɪn tərˈpoʊz /

verb (used with object)

interposes, present (3rd person singular) interposed, past participle, past interposing present participle

1. to place between; cause to intervene.

   to interpose an opaque body between a light and the eye.

   Synonyms:

   inject, insinuate, insert, introduce

2. to put (a barrier, obstacle, etc.) between or in the way of.

3. to put in (a remark, question, etc.) in the midst of a conversation, discourse, or the like.

   Synonyms:

   interject

4. to bring (influence, action, etc.) to bear between parties, or on behalf of a party or person.

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verb (used without object)

interposes, present (3rd person singular) interposed, past participle, past interposing present participle

1. to come between other things; assume an intervening position or relation.

2. to step in between parties at variance; mediate.

   Synonyms:

   intercede, intervene

3. to put in or make a remark by way of interruption.

   Synonyms:

   interject

interpose British  

/ ˌɪntəˈpəʊz /

verb

1. to put or place between or among other things

2. to introduce (comments, questions, etc) into a speech or conversation; interject

3. to exert or use power, influence, or action in order to alter or intervene in (a situation)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interposal
  noun
• interposer
  noun
• interposable
  adjective
• uninterposed
  adjective
• uninterposing
  adjective
• interposingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• interposing
  present
• interposed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• interpose
  simple
• interposes
  simple
• have interposed
  perfect
• has interposed
  perfect
• am interposing
  progressive
• are interposing
  progressive
• is interposing
  progressive
• have been interposing
  perfect progressive
• has been interposing
  perfect progressive

Past

• interposed
  simple
• had interposed
  perfect
• was interposing
  progressive
• were interposing
  progressive
• had been interposing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will interpose
  simple
• will have interposed
  perfect
• will be interposing
  progressive
• will have been interposing
  perfect progressive

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!"

Example Sentences

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

Over the weekend, he hastened to testify to the Justice Department inspector general and the Senate Judiciary Committee before Trump could seek to interpose assertions of executive privilege.

From Washington Post • Aug. 8, 2021

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

One faction accepted that government would have to change as the economy and society changed, if only because it alone had sufficient scale to interpose itself between corporate power and individual citizens.

From Salon • Mar. 5, 2016

Lee said, “Longstreet proposes that we move our army to the right around the enemy flank and interpose between Meade and Washington.”

From "The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War" by Michael Shaara

Related Words

• arbitrate