intervene

American  

[in-ter-veen] / ˌɪn tərˈvin /

verb (used without object)

intervened, intervening

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

   Synonyms:

   interpose, arbitrate

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.

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intervene British  

/ ˌɪntəˈviːn /

verb

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

2. 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

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Other Word Forms

• intervener noun
• reintervene verb (used without object)
• unintervening adjective

Etymology

Origin of intervene

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin intervenīre “to come between,” from inter- inter- + venīre “to come”; basis, come

Example Sentences

He noted that identifying Alzheimer's sooner gives doctors more time to intervene and potentially slow the progression of symptoms such as memory loss, reduced thinking speed, and mood changes.

From Science Daily

Advocates for businesses, including the North Carolina Chamber of Commerce, had criticized some regulations and urged the commission to intervene.

From Salon

The agency “did not want to intervene and superimpose last-minute, unvetted judgment into the process, as this could have been perceived as manipulating the data,” it said.

From The Wall Street Journal

At the song’s crescendo, one of the men jumps into the fountain outside the pavilion, prompting Disney cast members and security to intervene.

From The Wall Street Journal

Bus drivers and bus station staff will also be given mandatory training on identifying and intervening where vulnerable passengers are at risk from antisocial behaviour or violence.

From BBC

Related Words

• arbitrate
• intercede
• interfere
• involve
• meddle
• negotiate