intervene

[ in-ter-veen ]

/ ˌɪn tərˈvin /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR intervene ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), in·ter·vened, in·ter·ven·ing.

to come between disputing people, groups, etc.; intercede; mediate.

to occur or be between two things.

to occur or happen between other events or periods: Nothing important intervened between the meetings.

(of things) to occur incidentally so as to modify or hinder: We enjoyed the picnic until a thunderstorm intervened.

to interfere with force or a threat of force: to intervene in the affairs of another country.

Law. to interpose and become a party to a suit pending between other parties.

Nearby words

interval signal, interval training, intervale, intervalometer, intervarsity, intervene, intervenient, intervening sequence, intervening variable, intervenor, intervenous tubercle

Origin of intervene

1580–90; < Latin intervenīre to come between, equivalent to inter- inter- + venīre to come; see convene

SYNONYMS FOR intervene

1 arbitrate, interpose.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR intervene ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

re·in·ter·vene, verb (used without object), re·in·ter·vened, re·in·ter·ven·ing.un·in·ter·ven·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for intervene

Nothing in it was meant to change the basic operations of the capitalist economy or to intervene aggressively in class relations.
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society|Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Please, Your Excellencies, consider my case with justice and intervene on my behalf.
An American Marine in Iran’s Prisons Goes on Hunger Strike|IranWire|December 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Starr stresses that universities are required under Title IX to investigate and intervene in sexual assault cases.
Is Columbia Failing Campus Rape Victims?|Lizzie Crocker|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many Syrian rebels remain furious with what they view as a cynical U.S. decision to intervene in Syria against ISIS but not Assad.
The Battle for Aleppo: A Decisive Fight for ISIS, Assad, and the USA|Jamie Dettmer|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Even if he had wanted to intervene, he couldn't have as he is "no Arnold Schwarzenegger," as he says.
The ‘Hunted’ Gays of Putin’s Russia: Vicious Vigilantes and State Bigotry Close Up|Tim Teeman|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Heywood sprang to intervene, in the same instant that the disturber of trade swept his arm down in frenzy.
Dragon's blood|Henry Milner Rideout
So extreme was Eve's suffering, that she wished to intervene and part them.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete|Emile Zola
He had a thought, too, that if by any chance Pele should intervene—both the woman and the Skylark might learn.
She Buildeth Her House|Will Comfort
To avoid that deplorable waste of life, therefore, I am prepared to intervene, should the necessity unhappily arise.
The Cruise of the Nonsuch Buccaneer|Harry Collingwood
With the advent of Peel, he began to intervene actively in the affairs of the State.
Queen Victoria|Lytton Strachey

British Dictionary definitions for intervene

intervene

/ (ˌɪntəˈviːn) /

verb (intr)

(often foll by in) to take a decisive or intrusive role (in) in order to modify or determine events or their outcome

(foll by in or between) to come or be (among or between)

(of a period of time) to occur between events or points in time

(of an event) to disturb or hinder a course of action

economics to take action to affect the market forces of an economy, esp to maintain the stability of a currency

law to interpose and become a party to a legal action between others, esp in order to protect one's interests

Derived Forms

intervener or intervenor, noun

Word Origin for intervene

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