Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

intervene

[in-ter-veen]
See more synonyms for intervene on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object), in·ter·vened, in·ter·ven·ing.
  1. to come between disputing people, groups, etc.; intercede; mediate.
  2. to occur or be between two things.
  3. to occur or happen between other events or periods: Nothing important intervened between the meetings.
  4. (of things) to occur incidentally so as to modify or hinder: We enjoyed the picnic until a thunderstorm intervened.
  5. to interfere with force or a threat of force: to intervene in the affairs of another country.
  6. Law. to interpose and become a party to a suit pending between other parties.
Show More

Origin of intervene

1580–90; < Latin intervenīre to come between, equivalent to inter- inter- + venīre to come; see convene
Related formsre·in·ter·vene, verb (used without object), re·in·ter·vened, re·in·ter·ven·ing.un·in·ter·ven·ing, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for intervene on Thesaurus.com
1. arbitrate, interpose.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for intervene

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

British Dictionary definitions for intervene

intervene

verb (intr)
  1. (often foll by in) to take a decisive or intrusive role (in) in order to modify or determine events or their outcome
  2. (foll by in or between) to come or be (among or between)
  3. (of a period of time) to occur between events or points in time
  4. (of an event) to disturb or hinder a course of action
  5. economics to take action to affect the market forces of an economy, esp to maintain the stability of a currency
  6. law to interpose and become a party to a legal action between others, esp in order to protect one's interests
Show More
Derived Formsintervener or intervenor, noun

Word Origin

C16: from Latin intervenīre to come between, from inter- + venīre to come
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

Word Origin and History for intervene

v.

1580s, back-formation from intervention, or else from Latin intervenire "to come between, intervene, interrupt," from inter "between" (see inter-) + venire "to come" (see venue). Related: Intervened; intervening.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper