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intervene

[ in-ter-veen ]
/ ˌɪn tərˈvin /
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See synonyms for: intervene / intervened / intervenes / intervening 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.
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Origin of intervene

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

OTHER WORDS FROM intervene

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

Words nearby intervene

intervalometer, interval scale, interval signal, interval training, intervarsity, intervene, intervenient, intervening variable, intervenor, intervention, interventional radiology
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to intervene

arbitrate, intercede, interfere, involve, meddle, negotiate, divide, intermediate, interpose, interrupt, intrude, obtrude, part, reconcile, separate, settle, sever, bedevil, befall, ensue

How to use intervene in a sentence

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 of intervene

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
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